The Paralympics recently put athletes with disabilities in the spotlight, reminding us all that sport can and should be accessible to all. Here in Canada Water, the new leisure centre being built by British Land for Southwark Council, has been designed with inclusivity firmly in mind. Various initiatives have been put in place to address accessibility in line with the requirements of Sport England, the body that aims to make sure everyone can enjoy the benefits of physical activity.

Both the eight-lane swimming pool and the learner pool will be fitted with pool hoists to help deliver more swimming sessions for people with disabilities. Women-only, silver and community sessions will also be aimed at making swimming as accessible to as wide a range of people as possible.

The gym and exercise studios have been built to be accessible to all abilities. Gym equipment will include seated rowers and weight machines with adjustable heights. A diverse range of fitness programmes will cater for various user groups.

The lifts at the leisure centre have been designed to accommodate four to five wheelchair users simultaneously, facilitating easy access to the sports hall for wheelchair teams. The London Borough of Southwark is working closely with local clubs and national governing bodies to develop an inclusive sports hall programme.

Who knows, the inclusive new leisure centre could even produce another local Paralympian to follow in the footsteps of Southwark’s own Oliver Lam-Watson. The wheelchair fencer recently brought home Bronze and Silver medals from the Paralympic Games in Paris. Oliver’s journey from Southwark to the Paralympic podium stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when barriers to participation in sports are removed.

Mike Delfs, British Land Development Manager, said: “By making accessibility a core feature of the leisure centre from the outset, we’re ensuring that people of all abilities can enjoy the benefits of physical activity in a welcoming and inclusive environment and we’re excited for the opportunities it will deliver when it opens in 2025.”

Cllr Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said: “The new leisure centre at Canada Water is a vital step in our commitment to making sport accessible for everyone in our community.

By incorporating inclusive design and improving accessibility, we’re ensuring that people of all abilities can enjoy first-class facilities. We’re proud to be creating a space where everyone has the opportunity to stay active, and where future Paralympians can be inspired.”