Durham leisure centre secures £2m investment from Lloyds Bank

A Durham-based multi-activity park has been acquired and is set for expansion, after securing a £2m funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Soccarena; Infinite Air Extreme Trampoline and New Ferens Park Stadium (home of Durham Women FC) are based on Belmont Industrial Estate, and are part of a multi-activity park set on a six-acre site.

The new managing director, Austin Carney, plans to bring these businesses together under the name of Infinite Durham.

He said: “Our vision is to build one of the biggest leisure destinations in the North of England by providing first class facilities for families to spend the entire day with us.

“The business used to house three separate entities, so the deal itself wasn’t simple but, with the support from Lloyds Bank, I was able to effectively acquire the entire site.

“The team at the bank fully understood what we were trying to achieve, and I look forward to continuing our relationship over the coming months as we look to expand and grow.”

The renovation and expansion will create 20 new jobs adding to a team of Infinite Air crew, football coaches, café employees and customer service staff. Plans are also in place for a further £400k investment over the next 12 months to upgrade the facilities.

John Curtis, relationship director for the North East at Lloyds Bank, added: “The expansion of what is now called Infinite Durham is a great example of a successful acquisition that will build upon an established brand.

“We are committed to helping Britain prosper by providing guidance and support for small to medium sized businesses, like Infinite Durham, which is why, since the beginning of 2011, we have grown our net lending to SMEs by 31 per cent.”