Council finalises team to deliver £26m leisure centre

Dover District Council has finalised its team to deliver a £26m leisure centre in the Kent town.

The authority has appointed a team of consultants to deliver the project. They include surveyor and designer Faithful+Gould, project manager Hadron Consulting, architect GT-3, engineers M-E Engineers and Engenuiti, management consultant The Sports Consultancy, and planner DHA planning.

Some of the team worked together at the feasibility stage of the project.

Designs are still being finalised but facilities should include an eight-lane pool, learner pool with moveable floor, four-court sports hall, squash courts, multi-function room, gym, fitness studios, clip ‘n’ climb and café.

Outside, there will be 3G pitches for five-a-side football.

The facility will be on a 2.1 hectare site in Whitfield and will replace Dover Leisure Centre. It is expected to open in early 2019.

Roger Walton, the council’s director of environment and corporate assets, said: “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.”

The authority will outsource the management of the new leisure centre through a tendering process. Your Leisure currently manages the council’s leisure facilities.