North Lanarkshire invests in Airdrie leisure centre with new yoga studio

North Lanarkshire has put yoga and Pilates at the centre of a wider leisure overhaul in Airdrie, where a £333,000 gym refit has delivered a dedicated holistic studio alongside new spin and Power spaces.

The council said the work at Airdrie Leisure Centre, announced on 30 April 2026, also brought in brand-new cardio, pin-loaded, plate-loaded and cable equipment, plus new functional and free-weight areas, upgraded lighting and flooring, and a refreshed layout. For yoga users, the most telling change is the new holistic studio, which moves mat-based work out of the margins and into a purpose-built space within a broader fitness offer.

That matters because the Airdrie package was not just a cosmetic spruce-up. The centre also gained a new spin studio with Keiser bikes, upgraded air conditioning, improved lighting and sound, and a new Power studio that the council said introduced a boutique fitness offer to Airdrie users. Taken together, the changes point to a leisure centre trying to serve recovery, conditioning and class-based training in one place, rather than splitting those experiences across separate facilities.

The same investment drive reached Shotts Leisure Centre, where the council said a replacement sauna and steam room, new tiling, an extra shower in the health-suite area, new flooring and redecoration were completed. The functional training space there was also refurbished with a new rig and upgraded cardiovascular equipment, while the reception area was redecorated.

At Wishaw Sports Centre, work began on replacing the running track so it could meet standards in the IAAF Track & Field Facilities Manual. The council said the job was expected to take 12 to 15 weeks, depending on weather conditions, a sign that the programme was aimed at both everyday use and more demanding community sport infrastructure.

Heather Liddle, the council’s Active & Creative Communities Manager, said: “The improvements reflect a commitment to modern, high-quality facilities that support health, wellbeing, and physical activity for local communities.”

North Lanarkshire said culture, sport and leisure services returned to council control on 1 April 2021, with that change intended to support a wider approach to physical and mental wellbeing through the Active & Creative Communities team. The leisure push sits inside a larger capital programme too, with the council saying towns and communities will benefit from £1.243 billion of investment over five years, and that 2% of the council tax increase is being channelled into a Community Investment Fund for infrastructure improvements including leisure, town centres, housing and roads.