Surrey firm appointed to build West Brom leisure centre

SANDWELL Council has appointed DC Leisure to drive forward its plans for an £11m leisure centre and swimming pool in West Bromwich.

The Surrey-based firm has been chosen to design, build, run and maintain the town centre complex, due to open in summer 2014.

It has been given “preferred bidder status” and will be awarded the contract subject to signing final legal and financial agreements.

Councillor Steve Eling, Sandwell Council deputy leader and cabinet member for strategic resources, said: “DC Leisure is a major player in the leisure industry with all the skills, knowledge and expertise to give Sandwell a state of the art pool complex.”

Over the past six years DC Leisure has built 11 leisure facilities worth £110m across the country.

It currently manages more than 100 leisure facilities on behalf of local councils.

The firm’s Peter Kirkham said: “DC Leisure is looking forward to working in partnership with Sandwell Council to deliver an exciting and excellent new leisure centre in West Bromwich.”

The planned site for the leisure complex is on the corner of Moor Street and Barton Street.

It will have a 25m pool with a learner pool, a sauna and steam room, a four-court sports hall, a 100-station fitness suite, two dance studios/activity rooms, an indoor children’s adventure play centre and a café.

A planning application is set to be submitted later this year, with building work starting early next year.