A multi-million pound new leisure centre development, which will provide high quality leisure services to current and future generations, is now under construction in Tewkesbury.
Tewkesbury Borough Council is leading the way with its forward thinking after procuring the services of Pick Everard and Willmott Dixon through the Scape framework.
Pick Everard will be project managing the procurement processes and also providing cost and design advice for the new £7.5 million Tewkesbury Leisure Centre in Gloucestershire.
Tewkesbury Borough Council’s lead member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Claire Wright, said: “We are really excited to be providing our residents and visitors with this brand new leisure centre.
“There will be so much on offer for customers to choose from – keeping fit really will be an enjoyable thing to do. We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our residents and I hope this new leisure centre will encourage people of all fitness levels and abilities to visit and get involved.”
The facility will replace the ageing Cascades centre in the town centre and has been designed with input from experts at Pick Everard and Willmott Dixon so that the council can maximise efficiencies throughout the project.
Stuart Brisbane, project lead from Pick Everard, said: “Tewkesbury is maximising its efficiencies by using the Scape framework and working with providers like ourselves and Willmott Dixon.
“We have been working with the council to configure a procurement approach which met its needs of maintaining agreed prices with schools, clubs and societies and ensuring low prices for general users.
“It has also meant that the council has been able to retain a high proportion of wet-side facility which made the previous centre so popular.
“By acting now the council is providing a centre that is both affordable and sustainable. It will also be working with leisure operator Places for People.
“The current leisure centre is at the end of its lifespan at 40 years with high running costs – but with the new centre, services like free swimming for under 8’s will now be provided, whilst studio space and a gymnasium will also be available.”
Pick Everard has been involved in the project since December 2013 and the building has now started construction on site. The leisure centre will have a main 25m pool with a 20m learner/training pool including fun features like sprays, water cannons and a paddling pool.
It will have a 60 station gym, sauna and steam rooms, and a flexible activities studio for a whole range of activities including dance, fitness classes and children's parties. The new centre will also have a coffee shop with viewing area.
Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, said: “We are proud to be working with Tewkesbury Borough Council to deliver this fantastic new facility. It adds to the investment the borough council is making to the borough and will ensure services for users for generations to come.
“With our project and cost management, it has meant that the contract with the leisure operator and contract with the builder could be entered on the same day with zero risk of unaffordability.”
The existing leisure centre will remain operational while the new centre is being built.
Pick Everard is delivering the project through the Scape framework. Pick Everard is the sole provider of project management and cost management services for the Scape national framework. Contractor, Willmott Dixon, has also been appointed under the Scape National Major Projects Framework where it too is the sole partner for projects with values from £2m upwards.
Use of the Scape Frameworks means that clients are able to start their projects immediately and in the case of Tewkesbury Borough Council this meant that the contract for the leisure operator and Willmott Dixon could be entered into on the same day with zero risk of unaffordability. Stringent KPIs will be met by Willmott Dixon through the programme including working with a local supply chain, local employment and community engagement.
The new Tewkesbury Leisure Centre will be completed by summer 2016.