Guildmore Starts £68m St George’s Leisure Centre Regeneration – Shadwell 2026

Key Points

• Guildmore Group has been officially appointed to lead the £68m regeneration of St George’s Leisure Centre in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• Demolition of the existing Shadwell building will begin in Autumn 2026, with construction starting in early 2027
• The new four-storey wet and dry facility is expected to complete in 2029
• The upgraded centre will feature a 25-metre pool, learner pool, splash pad, sports hall, and fitness studios
• Guildmore will deliver 30 new social housing units in a nine-storey residential block as part of the scheme
• Two heritage assets — a Victorian mortuary and a listed boundary wall — will be restored during the works
• Engin Ertosun, Chief Executive Officer of Guildmore Group, expressed pride in being selected and commitment to highest standards

Shadwell (East London Times) June 12, 2026 – Guildmore Group will start work on site this autumn after being officially appointed to lead the £68m regeneration of St George’s Leisure Centre in The London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Demolition of the existing building is scheduled to begin this Autumn 2026 with construction works expected to start in early 2027. The new leisure centre and homes are anticipated to be completed in 2029.

The existing leisure centre in Shadwell will be demolished and replaced with a modern four-storey wet and dry facility. The new centre will include a 25-metre pool, learner pool, splash pad, sports hall and fitness studios. As part of the scheme, Guildmore will also deliver a nine-storey residential block providing 30 new social housing units.

Two heritage assets on site will be restored as part of the works: a Victorian mortuary and a listed boundary wall, reflecting the council’s commitment to preserving the character of the area alongside new development.

Engin Ertosun, Chief Executive Officer of Guildmore Group, said:

“We are proud and excited to have been selected by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for this project. This scheme will have a real and lasting impact on local residents’ lives and we feel the responsibility that comes with that. We are committed to delivering to the highest standard and ensuring that St George’s serves this community well for generations to come.”

Why Is This £68m Project Happening in Shadwell?

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has identified St George’s Leisure Centre as a critical asset needing modernisation to meet current community fitness and recreational needs. The existing facility, located in Shadwell, has reached a point where replacement rather than refurbishment is the most viable option for delivering a high-quality leisure experience.

As reported by the Tower Hamlets council communications team in their official appointment announcement, the council selected Guildmore Group after a competitive tendering process based on the company’s track record in large-scale regeneration projects and commitment to delivering social value.

The £68m investment represents one of the largest single leisure centre regeneration projects in East London in recent years.

What Facilities Will the New Leisure Centre Include?

The new four-storey wet and dry facility will significantly expand the range of amenities available to local residents. According to the official project details released alongside Guildmore’s appointment, the centre will feature:

• A 25-metre main pool suitable for swimming lessons and recreational use
• A dedicated learner pool for children and beginners
• A splash pad for younger children’s play
• A multi-purpose sports hall for basketball,/netball, and other indoor sports
• Modern fitness studios for group exercise classes

The inclusion of both wet and dry facilities means the centre will cater to a wider demographic than the current building, offering opportunities for aquatics, team sports, and fitness training under one roof.

How Will Social Housing Be Integrated Into the Development?

Beyond the leisure centre itself, Guildmore Group will deliver a nine-storey residential block providing 30 new social housing units as part of the regeneration scheme. This integration of leisure and housing reflects a broader approach to urban regeneration that seeks to create mixed-use communities rather than single-purpose developments.

The social housing component addresses Tower Hamlets’ ongoing need for affordable rental properties. The borough has one of the highest demands for social housing in London, with thousands of households currently on the waiting list.

By including 30 new units within the leisure centre project, the council is leveraging infrastructure investment to deliver housing outcomes simultaneously.

What Heritage Assets Will Be Preserved During Construction?

Two heritage assets on the site will be restored as part of the works: a Victorian mortuary and a listed boundary wall .

This preservation work reflects the council’s commitment to maintaining the historical character of Shadwell alongside新 development.

The Victorian mortuary represents a tangible link to the area’s 19th-century history, while the listed boundary wall marks the original perimeter of the site. Both features will be carefully integrated into the new development design, ensuring that the regeneration does not erase the site’s historical significance.

As noted in the council’s heritage statement accompanying the project approval, preserving these assets demonstrates that modern development and historical conservation can coexist successfully .

Who Is Guildmore Group and Why Were They Selected?

Guildmore Group is a UK-based construction and regeneration company that specialises in large-scale mixed-use developments. Engin Ertosun serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Guildmore Group.

According to the official appointment announcement, Guildmore was selected through a competitive tender process. The council evaluated multiple bidders based on technical capability, financial stability,过往 project performance, and commitment to delivering social value. Engin Ertosun stated:

“We are proud and excited to have been selected by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for this project. This scheme will have a real and lasting impact on local residents’ lives and we feel the responsibility that comes with that” .

Guildmore’s portfolio includes several major regeneration projects across London, demonstrating experience with the scale and complexity required for the St George’s project.

When Will Each Phase of the Project Be Completed?

The project timeline has been clearly defined across three main phases:

• Autumn 2026: Demolition of the existing St George’s Leisure Centre building begins
• Early 2027: Construction works on the new facility commence
• 2029: Completion of both the new leisure centre and the 30 social housing units

This three-year construction period reflects the scale of the development, which includes both a major leisure facility and a nine-storey residential block. The timeline allows for careful restoration of the heritage assets alongside new construction work.

Residents should expect the existing leisure centre to remain operational until demolition begins in Autumn 2026, though there may be temporary disruption during the final months of operation.

What Impact Will Temporary Disruption Have on Local Residents?

During the demolition phase beginning Autumn 2026 and throughout the construction period, local residents will experience some disruption. This will include increased construction traffic, noise from demolition and building work, and potential temporary closures of nearby roads in Shadwell.

The council has indicated that it will work with Guildmore to minimise disruption through careful scheduling of noisy activities, provision of clear communication about road closures, and maintenance of access to nearby businesses. However, residents should expect a three-year period where construction activity is visible in the area.

Leisure centre users will need to access alternative facilities during the closure period. Tower Hamlets has several other leisure centres in the borough, including facilities in Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, and Limehouse, which may see increased demand during the St George’s closure.

Background: The History and Development Context of St George’s Leisure Centre

St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell has served the Tower Hamlets community for decades as a key recreational facility. The existing building, constructed during the post-war period of leisure infrastructure expansion, has gradually become outdated relative to modern leisure centre standards.

The decision to replace rather than refurbish the centre emerged from a comprehensive facility assessment conducted by Tower Hamlets council.

The assessment identified that the building’s structural condition, combined with its inability to meet current accessibility standards and modern leisure facility requirements, made full replacement the most cost-effective long-term solution.

The site’s historical significance includes the Victorian mortuary and listed boundary wall, which date from the 19th century when the area served both residential and industrialFunctions.

The mortuary specifically reflects Shadwell’s historical role in the broader London burial network during the Victorian era.

Tower Hamlets has been pursuing leisure centre regeneration as part of its broader community infrastructure strategy.

The borough invests significantly in maintaining and upgrading public facilities to support resident health and wellbeing. The £68m investment in St George’s represents a major commitment to this strategy, with the project designed to serve residents for generations.

The inclusion of 30 social housing units aligns with the council’s housing strategy, which prioritises delivering affordable rental properties through multiple channels including direct development on council-owned sites.

Prediction: How This Development Will affect Tower Hamlets Residents and the Local Community

The £68m regeneration of St George’s Leisure Centre will have significant effects on Tower Hamlets residents across multiple dimensions.

For leisure centre users, the new facility will provide substantially improved amenities. The 25-metre pool, learner pool, and splash pad will cater to families with children more effectively than the current single-pool arrangement. The sports hall and fitness studios will expand options for team sports and group exercise classes. Residents who currently travel to other borough leisure centres may choose to use the upgraded St George’s facility, potentially reducing travel time and costs.

For local residents seeking housing, the 30 new social housing units will provide affordable rental options in Shadwell. This addresses a critical need in Tower Hamlets, where demand for social housing significantly exceeds supply. The nine-storey residential block will increase housing density in the area, which may affect local street parking and pedestrian traffic patterns.

For the Shadwell neighbourhood, the three-year construction period will bring temporary disruption including noise, traffic, and road closures. However, the completed development will enhance the area’s amenities profile, potentially increasing local footfall and supporting nearby businesses. The restoration of heritage assets will preserve historical character while modern development proceeds.

For community health outcomes, improved leisure facilities typically correlate with increased physical activity among users. The expanded wet and dry facilities will enable more swimming lessons, fitness classes, and sports activities, potentially contributing to improved health outcomes across the borough.

For local employment, the construction phase will create jobs for construction workers, and the completed leisure centre will require staff for operations including fitness instructors, pool attendants, and administrative roles. Guildmore’s commitment to delivering social value may include local recruitment targets.

For property values, the addition of major leisure infrastructure and new housing can affect nearby property prices. While social housing units may not directly impact market values, the overall improvement in area amenities could influence demand for private residential properties in Shadwell.

For heritage preservation, the restoration of the Victorian mortuary and listed boundary wall demonstrates that development does not require complete removal of historical features. This approach may influence future regeneration projects across Tower Hamlets to incorporate similar heritage consideration.