1Life’s innovative approach to leisure has seen the conversion of a sorry-looking storage shed into a thriving cross-training hub, much to the delight of Milton Keynes sports teams and a surprising number of over-40s women who realise that 'strong is the new skinny'
The Depot offers military-style strength and conditioning sessions / PHOTOS: PAUL McLAUGHLIN
Faced with a run-down tractor shed in the middle of Woughton-on-the-Green playing fields, many operators would no doubt call in the bulldozer. But instead, 1Life saw an exciting opportunity. To reinvent this tired old box, the leisure operator thought outside of it, creating a captivating cross training Depot which has since become the talk of the town.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE 1Life’s conversion of this ageing out-house into a state-of-the-art fitness facility is a prime example of the fresh thinking which has seen the company quickly make its mark in Milton Keynes.
After recently winning a 10-year contract to manage five leisure facilities across the borough, 1Life has led a £1.3m investment programme to breathe new life into the portfolio. Woughton Leisure Centre has been transformed into the 21st century thanks to a raft of upgraded technology and concepts, while Windmill Hill Golf Course’s unused clubhouse has been reimagined as a specialised health and wellbeing centre for Milton Keynes' deconditioned market.
But it is perhaps The Depot that has set pulses racing the fastest. Offering military style strength and conditioning training sessions, the facility has a no-frills finish, with focus on the delivery of a series of hardcore workouts and personal training. Racks, rigs, benches, bars and ropes from BEAVERFIT replace traditional gym equipment, in line with the soaring consumer demand for a return to stripped back functional fitness offerings.
“There’s no doubt that the most active sections of society have sought more of a back-to-basics approach to workouts in recent years, with wearable technology serving the tracking functions which were once the preserve of large flashing machines,” says 1Life's MD, Neil King.
“Two of the biggest trends in health and fitness right now – which have both spread quickly from London – are the resurgence of group exercise classes and functional fitness; concepts which dovetail perfectly at The Depot.”
King continues: “Perhaps the real surprise for us has been the number of mums and ladies in their 40s who are regularly using the facility – which goes against all of the Sport England segmentation data
"They love the fact that the Depot is different. They tell us it’s a great workout and they also love the fact that small group training of this type is great fun and really builds amazing motivation and camaraderie.”
DYNAMIC TRAINING FOR SPORTS TEAMS While undoubtedly a hit with the wider public, The Depot was actually created with another target group in mind. Combining its exercise adherence knowledge with the guiding principles in the government’s recent Sporting Future strategy, 1Life has developed a range of different activity options to engage specific sections of society.
In the case of The Depot, the facility has been conceived as a fitness and performance centre for the various local sports teams that train on Woughton-on-the-Green playing fields, providing a range of intense cardio/strength and dynamic workouts to help push the players to the very top of their game.
Despite having one of the highest densities of private gyms in the country, in addition to soaring rates of inactivity and obesity, innovative fitness concepts remain surprisingly rare in Milton Keynes and it was 1Life’s eagerness to reinvent the wheel which helped them to win over Milton Keynes Council.
“1Life brought a lot of fresh thinking to the table and we were pretty well sold on the idea of The Depot straight away as it’s where MK Dons first team train, you have top hockey and cricket clubs there, as well as softball, baseball,” comments Paul Sanders, MK Council’s Assistant Director, Community Facilities.
“We loved the idea of turning the old tractor shed into a functional fitness facility – we used to keep our old grass-cutting machinery in there!
"It’s a rustic concept and sits really well with the sports teams who play there and want to be fit to compete.”
Series roadmap This series outlines the raft of innovative leisure projects that 1Life has introduced as part of its new contract in Milton Keynes. Contents: 1. Introduction to 1Life (HCM Jan 2016, p.40) 2. How the MK contract was won (HCM July 2016, p.56) 3. Transforming Woughton Leisure Centre into a community hub 4. Reinventing a tractor shed as a cross-training hub 5. Tackling inactivity at Windmill Hill Golf Centre
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
BC Softwear Ltd
Established in 2002 by Barbara Cooke, BC SoftWear provides unmatched expertise in the crafting of th [more...]
Myndstream
The Stream, Myndstream's purpose-built streaming service enables you to personalise the music to sui [more...]
1Life’s innovative approach to leisure has seen the conversion of a sorry-looking storage shed into a thriving cross-training hub, much to the delight of Milton Keynes sports teams and a surprising number of over-40s women who realise that 'strong is the new skinny'
The Depot offers military-style strength and conditioning sessions / PHOTOS: PAUL McLAUGHLIN
Faced with a run-down tractor shed in the middle of Woughton-on-the-Green playing fields, many operators would no doubt call in the bulldozer. But instead, 1Life saw an exciting opportunity. To reinvent this tired old box, the leisure operator thought outside of it, creating a captivating cross training Depot which has since become the talk of the town.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE 1Life’s conversion of this ageing out-house into a state-of-the-art fitness facility is a prime example of the fresh thinking which has seen the company quickly make its mark in Milton Keynes.
After recently winning a 10-year contract to manage five leisure facilities across the borough, 1Life has led a £1.3m investment programme to breathe new life into the portfolio. Woughton Leisure Centre has been transformed into the 21st century thanks to a raft of upgraded technology and concepts, while Windmill Hill Golf Course’s unused clubhouse has been reimagined as a specialised health and wellbeing centre for Milton Keynes' deconditioned market.
But it is perhaps The Depot that has set pulses racing the fastest. Offering military style strength and conditioning training sessions, the facility has a no-frills finish, with focus on the delivery of a series of hardcore workouts and personal training. Racks, rigs, benches, bars and ropes from BEAVERFIT replace traditional gym equipment, in line with the soaring consumer demand for a return to stripped back functional fitness offerings.
“There’s no doubt that the most active sections of society have sought more of a back-to-basics approach to workouts in recent years, with wearable technology serving the tracking functions which were once the preserve of large flashing machines,” says 1Life's MD, Neil King.
“Two of the biggest trends in health and fitness right now – which have both spread quickly from London – are the resurgence of group exercise classes and functional fitness; concepts which dovetail perfectly at The Depot.”
King continues: “Perhaps the real surprise for us has been the number of mums and ladies in their 40s who are regularly using the facility – which goes against all of the Sport England segmentation data
"They love the fact that the Depot is different. They tell us it’s a great workout and they also love the fact that small group training of this type is great fun and really builds amazing motivation and camaraderie.”
DYNAMIC TRAINING FOR SPORTS TEAMS While undoubtedly a hit with the wider public, The Depot was actually created with another target group in mind. Combining its exercise adherence knowledge with the guiding principles in the government’s recent Sporting Future strategy, 1Life has developed a range of different activity options to engage specific sections of society.
In the case of The Depot, the facility has been conceived as a fitness and performance centre for the various local sports teams that train on Woughton-on-the-Green playing fields, providing a range of intense cardio/strength and dynamic workouts to help push the players to the very top of their game.
Despite having one of the highest densities of private gyms in the country, in addition to soaring rates of inactivity and obesity, innovative fitness concepts remain surprisingly rare in Milton Keynes and it was 1Life’s eagerness to reinvent the wheel which helped them to win over Milton Keynes Council.
“1Life brought a lot of fresh thinking to the table and we were pretty well sold on the idea of The Depot straight away as it’s where MK Dons first team train, you have top hockey and cricket clubs there, as well as softball, baseball,” comments Paul Sanders, MK Council’s Assistant Director, Community Facilities.
“We loved the idea of turning the old tractor shed into a functional fitness facility – we used to keep our old grass-cutting machinery in there!
"It’s a rustic concept and sits really well with the sports teams who play there and want to be fit to compete.”
Series roadmap This series outlines the raft of innovative leisure projects that 1Life has introduced as part of its new contract in Milton Keynes. Contents: 1. Introduction to 1Life (HCM Jan 2016, p.40) 2. How the MK contract was won (HCM July 2016, p.56) 3. Transforming Woughton Leisure Centre into a community hub 4. Reinventing a tractor shed as a cross-training hub 5. Tackling inactivity at Windmill Hill Golf Centre
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
BC Softwear Ltd Established in 2002 by Barbara Cooke, BC SoftWear provides unmatched expertise in the crafting of th [more...]
