The YMCA has secured a £450,000 investment to launch a major redevelopment of its Plymouth sports centre and create a Tron-style alternate reality fitness suite.

The charity will use the cash to install an immersive spin studio at its Honicknowle building, where people will be able to ride spin exercise bikes while watching images on a cinematic curved screen.

With an advanced audio system incorporated too, in a suite provided by top sports equipment brand Les Mills, it is all designed to provide users with an “exhilarating immersive experience”, likened to the virtual world of the Tron sci-fi movies, while burning calories.

The first phase of the overall redevelopment of what was previously called the Kitto Centre would also see a high-spec gym installed in a newly kitted-out fitness suite.

This will improve the workouts of the centre’s 1,000-plus members, and enable the YMCA to grow its successful cardiac rehabilitation services and health provision for vulnerable groups.

The development is set to be only the first phase of a wider regeneration project at the centre with the aim of tackling health inequalities in Plymouth.

The initial phase of the “bold regeneration” of the Honicknowle Lane facility, built in 1974, also includes refurbished changing rooms.

The project has been made possible with a £450,000 investment, mostly a grant, from Postcode Innovation Trust, thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and social impact investors Resonance.

A Les Mills immersive spin studio similar to the one planned for the YMCA's Honicknowle facility

It comes as the YMCA centre has been closed for more than months due to the ongoing nationwide restrictions for gyms and leisure centres as part of the coronavirus lockdown.

Tom Lavis, director of business development at YMCA Plymouth, said: “We are extremely excited to have been given the green light for this much needed regeneration of our centre - especially at a time when good news can feel in short supply.

“Importantly, this isn’t a bid or an ambition, but a development project we’re actually ready to begin building.”

“We’re very grateful that players of People’s Postcode Lottery and Resonance have backed us, and both share our vision to tackle local health inequalities, by providing high-quality and importantly affordable provision at our facility.

“This development will be a major boost to our community, particularly in expanding our work for disadvantaged groups and people with cardiac conditions.”

How a redeveloped Kitto Centre could look

Leila Sharland, senior investment manager at Resonance said: “In these difficult times, we are proud to support YMCA Plymouth in their mission to benefit the whole city.

“We are particularly pleased that the investment from our Health and Wellbeing Challenge Fund will contribute to improving cardiac health via new facilities such as the immersive spinning studio.”

Mr Lavis said the YMCA has further, ambitious, plans, which will be announced soon, and said: “We’re much more than just a sport or leisure centre. As an independent charity here in Plymouth, we exist to support young people and our community’s health, education and family needs.”

“For example, many people are surprised to learn that we train over 180 young people here each week at our Discovery College.

“As well as this, we support hundreds of local families through our disability sessions, play activities and more.

“We have bold plans, and this is just a first step. We look forward to announcing more in the near future.”