Places For People Leisure take the baton for new Dover District Leisure Centre

Dover District Council has awarded a 12 year management contract for the new Dover District Leisure Centre to Places for People Leisure Management Ltd ("Places for People Leisure") following a competitive tender process. Construction on the £26m facility started this month with a planned opening early in 2019. 

Places for People Leisure are a social enterprise that is passionate about improving opportunities for communities to be physically active. They are one of the largest leisure operators in the UK managing a portfolio of over 100 leisure facilities for local authorities across the country. The company will be taking over the running of the existing Dover Leisure Centre on Townwall Street from April 2018. The existing centre will remain open until the new facility at Whitfield opens. Your Leisure will continue to manage the Tides Leisure and Indoor Tennis Centre in Deal. 

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Cabinet Member for Property at Dover District Council, said: "We’re delighted to be working with Places for People Leisure on this exciting project to deliver a new leisure centre for the district. We were impressed with their credentials not just in operating a first class leisure centre but also their commitment to engaging more people in healthier, more active lifestyles. 

"By bringing Places for People on-board now we can work with them throughout the build and commissioning phases, and ensure a smooth transition from the old to the new. 

"We also look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with Your Leisure as operators of Tides and the Indoor Tennis Centre at Deal.  On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank them for their stewardship of the existing Dover Leisure Centre for the past 17 years." 

The new Dover District Leisure Centre will feature a competition standard eight lane pool with spectator seating for 250 people, learner pool with movable floor, four court sports hall, 120 station fitness suite, squash courts, multifunction room, fitness studios, clip ‘n’ climb wall and a café. There will also be two outdoor 3G artificial pitches for five-a-side football. 

Sandra Dodd, Chief Executive of Places for People Leisure, said: "We are extremely pleased to be awarded the leisure management contract and are looking forward to working in close partnership with Dover District Council and local partners, to ensure we offer a diverse range of activities and opportunities that inspire all members of the community to participate in a love of physical activity." 

About Places for People Leisure:
 

• Partners 36 local authorities across England
• Manages 117 leisure centres nationwide and three Places Gyms
• Attracts 30 million leisure centre visits each year
• Leads 70,000 swimming lessons per week
• Employs 8,600 staff
• First Leisure Management Company to achieve Quest Stretch for ‘Outstanding’ for Sports Development (now Active Communities)
• Crowned ukactive Leisure Centre Operator of the Year 2015, 2014 and 2013
• Awarded ukactive Leisure Centre of the Year 2016 (Streamline), 2015 (Multi-use), 2014 (Multi-use)
• ukactive Outstanding Achievement Award 2017 - Leisure Centre of the Year (Multi-use) – Maltby Leisure Centre, Places for People Leisure
• Winner of the 2013 Apprenticeship Provider of the Year Award, in partnership with Lifetime Training
• Winner of the Royal Society for Public Health Award 2013/16.