Dover District Council appoints team to start work on new leisure centre

Dover District Council has confirmed its consultancy team who will deliver a new £26m Leisure Centre for the district. The team includes Faithful+Gould (lead consultant, quantity surveyor and principal designer), Hadron Consulting (project manager), GT-3 (architect), M-E Engineers (mechanical and engineering services), Engenuiti (structural and civils), The Sports Consultancy (operator procurement) and DHA (planning). The team have all previously worked together bringing the scheme through the feasibility stage and will deliver the project through to its official opening.

The Dover District's new leisure centre will be located on a 2.1 ha site in Whitfield. Whilst the design is still to be finalised, it is envisaged that the facilities will include a new 8-lane pool, learner pool with moveable floor, 4-court sports hall, squash courts, multi-function room, gym, fitness studios, clip 'n' climb and café. Externally there will be 3G pitches for five-a-side football, car parking and landscaping around the centre.

The new leisure centre will vastly improve facilities for the local community and provide a first-class centre that can bring people together through sport and recreation. The centre is expected to open in early 2019.

Speaking on the Council's agreement to fund the new leisure centre, Roger Walton, Director of Environment & Corporate Assets, said: "The new leisure centre represents a major investment in the future of the district, and comes as a range of regeneration projects is transforming the area. The proposals provide for a fantastic new facility and we now have an experienced team working with us to deliver a new leisure centre to meet the needs of residents now and into the future."