Council awards prestigious leisure centre contract
A UK specialist in the construction of leisure projects has been chosen to build the £15 million flagship Littlehampton Leisure Centre.
Arun District Council has awarded Willmott Dixon the contract to deliver the centre, which will feature an impressive eight-lane, 25 metre swimming pool, learner pool, gym, dance and cycling studios, sports hall and café.
With building set to start in 2017, the centre will be built on the site of the current sports dome and overflow car park and the existing building will be demolished once the new building is completed.
Construction and regeneration experts, Willmott Dixon has delivered more than £100 million of leisure facilities in the past six months.
Recent similar projects include refurbishing Fairfield Pools & Leisure Centre for Dartford Council in Kent, building the flagship Wycombe Sports Centre with 50 metre pool in High Wycombe and two large leisure centres for Oldham Council. In Romford, Willmott Dixon is working on the town’s centrepiece ice rink and swimming pool complex set for completion in early 2018.
Creating a legacy is also important and the company operates the Willmott Dixon Community Investment Plan [CIP] which includes local work placements, trainee and graduate placements and apprenticeships, along with creating new jobs.
Studies undertaken in 2014 and 2015 by Arun District Council concluded that there was a need for the new facility and that the best location was the existing Sea Road site in Littlehampton. This means the public will be able to carry on using the current leisure centre while the new one takes shape.
Councillor Paul Dendle, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Amenities, said: “We are delighted to announce Willmott Dixon as the successful company. They have a proven track record in delivering similar projects and we are excited about seeing this major project get underway.
“We believe that when open, the leisure centre and swimming pool will be an amazing facility that the town can be really proud of and that residents can enjoy for years to come.”
Roger Forsdyke, managing director at Willmott Dixon in the Southern Home Counties, said: “Littlehampton is a fantastic town and we are looking forward to using our expertise to deliver a flagship leisure centre that becomes a very popular destination for people in the town and beyond.”
