High Life Highland has awarded a contract to O’Brien Construction to provide improved facilities at a swimming pool in Caithness.

The Thurso Swimming Pool project jointly funded by The Highland Council and sportscotland will see a total investment of £2.7 million in the facility providing a new gym/fitness suite, a new dance studio, steam room, sauna, new changing village and replacement of the roof.

Existing facilities will be refurbished with a full redecoration planned, new reception area, reconfigured storage, the existing gym will become a strength and conditioning/wellness hub and the pool being retiled.

The facility will provide DDA compliant access services and will see improvements behind the scenes as well with new staff changing rooms and reworked office accommodation pool side.

Donald McLachlan, High Life Highland chair, said: “We are committed to providing the best facilities and service for our customers and this investment will bring first class leisure facilities to the area that Thurso can be proud of. I am sure the result will prove to be hugely popular with the local community.”

Bill Alexander, Highland Council’s director of care and learning, said: “Providing first class sport and leisure facilities that will improve the health and wellbeing of local people is a key priority. Highland Council is pleased to fund this major pool refurbishment through £1.45m from our Care and Learning Service and £0.95m from our Development and Infrastructure Service capital budgets. When added to the £0.3m sportscotland grant funding, this represents a significant investment to improve the pool and associated facilities in Thurso.”

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, added: “We are building a world class sporting system for everyone in Scotland and this £300,000 investment into the Thurso Swimming Pool redevelopment is a key part of this. By providing access to flexible, inclusive changing facilities and improving the sports provision in the area, it will mean more and better opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity. This redevelopment will enhance the provision to local clubs within the Hub and serve as a centre for athlete development, with the inclusion of the strength and conditioning facilities delivered in partnership with the sportscotland Institute of Sport.”