Brandon Leisure Centre is undergoing an all over £500,000 revamp to update and upgrade its facilities.

The 12-week project is a culmination of the vision and innovative ideas of Forest Heath District Council working actively with its leisure provider partner, Anglia Community Leisure. Carried out by development partner Createability, the work will see the reception remodelled, the changing rooms completely transformed and a multi function studio for group exercise created. The existing fitness suite is split over two floors with the lower floor, originally part of a viewing balcony, formed in the 1990s. The new fitness suite will be doubled in size to offer 40 exercise stations.

The bar will be converted into a modern versatile cafe/bar area, with a folding acoustic wall that can be opened into the multi function studio to create an open space for events such as weddings, catering for up to 150 people. Work is expected to complete in November.

The 20-year-old dry side centre, managed by cultural and leisure trust Anglia Community Leisure on behalf of Forest Heath, currently offers a sports hall, fitness suite, indoor bowls hall and two squash courts. The indoor bowls hall will be removed to cater for the new facilities, but short mat bowls will be introduced to the programme.

Createability's contract for the redevelopment programme is with Forest Heath District Council. According to Createability's Managing Director Ian Cotgrave, initially this was to be a negotiated contract with the Trust. However, in an facilitatory move, the Council stepped in and agreed to fund the project on behalf of the Trust. For Createability to prove 'value for money' was being achieved the Council requested an open book policy where Createability bring in quotes from local companies as well as its own contractors.

Cotgrave explains: "Our contract is directly with the Council on a 'fixed price' basis and is completely open book in that we have obtained quotes for the main elements of the work, the Council has been given sight of these and is aware of our overheads and profit. Open book generally means just that and so the end price cannot be fixed as it is a moving feast. However we have agreed to take the risk and fix the price, so technically it's a 'fixed price, open book, negotiated contract'!"

Tony Bass, CEO of Anglia Community Leisure said: "The redevelopment will shift our focus away from traditional sport to health and fitness. We intend to retain our community feel, but will be more child, family and older person friendly. The multi function suite will add to this community feel. We currently hold about 30 events a year, but the new facility will offer both an improved environment and catering services for our local residents."