An Insight Into The World Of New Builds

This year we are excited to be opening three new sites with the official openings of Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre, the rebuild of Fleming Park Leisure Centre and Elmbridge Sports Hub. Construction of two brand new replacement centres and significant enhancements to existing centres is also currently underway within Test Valley and Epping Forest on behalf of Test Valley Borough Council and Epping Forest District Council.

Each new build design that Places for People Leisure (PfPL) and our team of architects and construction partners complete is unique to ensure that our designs fit the needs of the local landscape and the community it serves.

In Birmingham for instance we worked very closely with Birmingham City Council and the local community groups to open Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre to the public last month and respect its historical past. The final version was very much influenced by them. The Centre is unique in its design and is sympathetic to the history of the old baths which used to sit on the same site. Understanding the centres’ historical significance to the local community, the original plaque from the old baths was retained and incorporated into the new centre design to ensure that its legacy lived on.

The design elements in the new Sparkhill Leisure Centre are unique to reflect the old Victorian baths that occupied the site as a tribute to its heritage. Plans for the official opening of the new centre are currently underway for this Autumn.

PfPL don’t just offer our local authority partners Design, Build, Operate and Maintain solutions, as well as leading on the construction of 15 new leisure centres we have also assisted our clients in building 7 Council built facilities in recent years including builds with Tewkesbury Borough Council and Wycombe District Council. Fleming Park Leisure Centre is a fantastic example of a state of the art Council build by Eastleigh Borough Council that is due to officially open later this year.

Sparkhill Pool, built by Places for People Leisure on behalf of Birmingham City Council

Artist impression of rebuild for Fleming Park Leisure Centre

We have partnered the Council throughout the process and are particularly excited about the opening of this facility, which will feature a 25m 8 lane pool, 150 station fitness suite, health suite and a 15 court sports, which will be one of the largest in the country. It will also continue to be the base for the Council’s HealthWorks health promotion team ensuring that the new site will be a wellness hub. As a result of this collaboration Eastleigh Borough Council and PfPL have agreed a 20-year contract extension.

We recently won the contract to manage Elmbridge Sports Hub with Elmbridge Borough Council which is due to start in September 2017. The 4-year contract will include a pavilion with bar fitness studio, 2 grass training pitches, and 2 floodlit 3G pitches. The facility designed by Elmbridge Borough Council will be the new training grounds for Walton Casuals Football Club and will include 636 spectator seats in order to support match days and other events.

Martin Anderson, Capital Projects Director at Places for People Leisure comments, “We continue to be the leading leisure operator in Public, Private, Partnership new builds and are excited to be able to continue creating unique facilities for the communities we serve. With two new facilities for Test Valley Borough Council and Epping Forest District Council totalling £24.3m currently under construction, we have an exciting year ahead for new builds.”