Improvements at Didcot Wave are clear as black and white
Published Monday 8 June 2026
Users of the Didcot Wave leisure centre will easily notice the improvements following a £250,000 upgrade of the site’s dry side changing facilities thanks to more space and a new monochrome colour scheme.
The refurbishment, which was fully paid for from developers funds, included the removal of two dividing walls, creating more space and light. It also incorporated an upgrade of the accessible facilities making the centre more user-friendly to people of all abilities.
Energy saving LED lighting was added throughout, while the addition of the black and white colour scheme has given the changing rooms a much more modern look and feel.
The changing facilities also benefit from a new air circulation system which regulates the temperature and humidity. This saves more energy than the old less efficient radiators, which have been removed thereby creating more room.
The more spacious area is welcome with more activities available on site since November when two new studios – one multi-use, one dedicated to spin activities – were created from an area previously occupied by a former café and kitchen.
Now these refurbishments are complete the centre can look forward to the next step in its upgrade with early stage plans beginning on a new teaching pool and the start of the decarbonisation project to replace end-of-life gas boilers with solar panels, air source heat pumps and insulation reducing running costs and carbon emissions at the centre.
Cllr Pieter-Paul Barker, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property Assets at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “These new changing rooms are eye-catching and give the site a real freshen up. The upgrade has also given more space which immediately improves the experience for visitors.
“Following the addition of the new studios last year and the upgrade of the changing areas, we are working on plans around the pool facilities and the decarbonisation scheme. Didcot Wave is getting ready to support residents stay fit and healthy for decades to come.”
Rebecca Richmond, GLL general manager said: “As the operator of Didcot Wave, we have been working closely with our council colleagues to implement these significant upgrades to the leisure centre. The whole customer experience is now much improved and offers a modern look and feel, in addition to improved energy efficiency. We’d like to thank our customers for their patience while building works were taking place.”
Notes to editors
Didcot Wave is run by Better on behalf of the council. Visit the Better Didcot Wave Leisure Centre website for more information on the centre.
This project cost was fully funded from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – money from new developments in the area which goes towards local infrastructure.
Energy efficient improvements
The work on the changing facilities is in addition to major building work announced in 2024 when South Oxfordshire District Council was successful in its application for government funding for energy efficient improvements at Didcot Wave.
This was a joint £3m package to replace end of life gas boilers with solar panels, air source heat pumps and insulation at both Didcot Wave leisure centre and Park Sports Centre in Wheatley. When all the new renewable energy measures are installed, they will save more than 200 tonnes in carbon emissions each year as so much of the energy needed to run the leisure centres will be soon be renewable rather than from fossil fuels. This will reduce South Oxfordshire District Council’s overall emissions by 6.9 per cent.
