16/06/2026
𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗯 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀
💓Excitement is building as Highlight, Hartlepool’s new multi-million pound Active Wellbeing Hub, prepares to open its doors on Monday 22 June.
🏗️The eagerly anticipated opening marks the culmination of an ambitious two-and-a-half-year construction project - delivered with funding from Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority and Sport England - to create a state-of-the-art facility that is set to redefine health, fitness and wellbeing across the borough.
🌟Rising proudly on the site of the former Jacksons Landing shopping outlet, Highlight is already making its mark on the Hartlepool skyline.
🌟Designed by award-winning architects GT3 alongside the Council’s own in-house expertise and constructed by leading contractor Wates, the flagship development increases in height from west to east and offers striking architectural impact alongside panoramic views across Hartlepool marina.
🏋️A replacement for the former Mill House Leisure Centre, Highlight is ushering in a new era for community health and activity and represents a huge boost to ongoing efforts to encourage more residents to get active and improve their physical and mental health. At its core is a commitment to making wellbeing accessible for everyone - regardless of age, ability or background.
🌟Operated by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Active Hartlepool service, it takes a pioneering approach to integrated care through a partnership with University Hospitals Tees. For the first time, residents will be able to access a range of NHS services from four dedicated consultation suites within a leisure and wellbeing environment.
🗣️Councillor Graham Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Highlight represents a huge investment in the health and wellbeing of our residents, and we are incredibly proud to see this landmark facility ready to open its doors. It is a bold statement of our ambition for Hartlepool, bringing together world-class fitness facilities, family-friendly activities and vital health services under one roof, alongside extensive external space and on water facilities in the most unique setting.
🗣️“We have created a space that will support people to live healthier, happier lives for years to come. I have no doubt that Highlight will become a focal point for our community – a place where people of all ages can be active, connect and thrive.”
🗣️Stacey Hunter, University Hospitals Tees Chief Executive, said: “Our ambition is for Highlight to operate as one integrated team, with colleagues from Active Hartlepool and University Hospitals Tees working seamlessly side by side for the benefit of local people.
🗣️“By offering referral-based services in the heart of the community, we are ensuring our expertise is available where it’s needed most. This not only supports the NHS ten-year plan’s ambition to deliver more care closer to home, but also reflects what our patients tell us they want. People in Hartlepool value their local services and we’re proud to be strengthening our community offer even further. After all, why travel to hospital when a state-of-the-art facility is right on your doorstep?
🗣️“I’d like to thank our staff, who have worked tirelessly and collaboratively with Hartlepool Borough Council and our partners to make services at Highlight a reality.”
🏊♂️The scale and variety of facilities on offer underline Highlight’s ambition. Water lovers will be drawn to the impressive aquatics provision, featuring a 25-metre eight-lane main pool, a 25-metre four-lane learner pool with a movable floor, and a leisure pool complete with water play features and a race slide.
💪Fitness enthusiasts will benefit from a 100-station gym equipped for all levels, alongside two interconnected fitness studios and a dedicated spinning studio.
🥳Meanwhile, families are catered for with active and soft play areas, as well as a party room designed to host celebrations and special occasions.
🌟So, whether you are focused on fitness, family fun or wellbeing there’s something for everyone.
☕Beyond fitness, Highlight offers spaces to relax and socialise. A spacious café with seating for 100 provides a welcoming place to unwind, complemented by external ground and first-floor terraces that make the most of the marina views. Outdoor activity and events spaces further enhance the hub’s role as a vibrant community destination.
While the opening was originally scheduled for 10 June, a short delay has ensured that every finishing touch meets the highest standard for what is set to be one of Hartlepool’s most iconic buildings. The result is a facility built not just for today, but for generations of Hartlepudlians to come.
📱Join Active Hartlepool and enjoy an Active Wellbeing membership, starting from just £18.50. This membership includes unlimited swimming at Highlight, as well as access to fitness classes and gym facilities across three venues: Headland Sports Centre, Brierton Sports Centre, and Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub.
www.activehartlepool.co.uk/memberships
🧑💻If you’re not ready to commit to a membership, you can purchase an Active Hartlepool wristband for just £2 a year. The wristband gives you discounts on swimming, fitness classes, activities, and access to the gym. To find out more about the Active Hartlepool wristband, visit https://www.activehartlepool.co.uk/gym-fitness/active-hartlepool-wristband
