Places for People Leisure secures 20-year Epping Forest contract

Places for People Leisure has a won a 20-year contract to run council-owned fitness facilities in Epping Forest, Essex.

The contract, which is due to start on 1 April, includes plans for a new £9.5m (US$12m, €11.2m) leisure facility at Waltham Abbey to replace the existing Waltham Abbey Swimming Pool, as well as investment to existing sites – Epping Sports Centre, Loughton Leisure Centre and Ongar Leisure Centre.

Places for People Leisure will design and build Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre with its construction partners Pellikaan Construction and architects Pozzoni.

Subject to detailed planning permission, the centre will feature a 25metre six-lane swimming pool with 15metre learner pool, dance and group cycling studios, virtual cycling, a community room, and café.

It will also offer an 80-station fitness suite that includes equipment from Precor, Technogym, Wattbike, Queenax, D2F and Octane Fitness.

Improvements to the three existing leisure facilities will include extending the health and fitness offering at Loughton, a remodelling of the internal layout of Epping Sports Centre, and refurbishment of Ongar Leisure Centre.

Sandra Dodd, Places for People Leisure chief executive, said: “We are looking forward to working with Epping Forest District Council to enhance the current leisure provision and to deliver a modern and sustainable new leisure centre that will be a focal point for the local community; improving the health and wellbeing of residents for many generations to come in line with our mission to create active places and healthy people.”

Places for People Leisure partners 35 local authorities, managing 112 leisure centres across England.