Financial close was reached between Bristol City Council and Bristol Active Limited (a special purpose company owned by Equitix, set up specifically to deliver the project) on 14th April.
The project will deliver a state of the art leisure centre (designed by LA architects) that will provide a vibrant range of facilities, offering everyone the opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity whilst improving the overall health of the residents in South Bristol.
Expected to open in February 2012 during the Olympic year, the £27m Hengrove Leisure Centre will include a ten lane 50m competition pool, a 20m teaching pool, a sports hall and climbing wall, a 150 station fitness gym, two dance studios plus a community healthy living centre.
Parkwood Consultancy Services has led the bid phase and contract negotiations on behalf of the consortium and will go on to provide construction project management, maintenance and lifecycle services and general management services to Bristol Active Limited throughout the 25 year concession period. Construction contractor Kier Western will shortly commence on site and is expected to complete the new centre within 85 weeks.
David Swinburn, Associate Director of Parkwood Consultancy Services said:
“We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with Bristol City Council and our consortium partners to deliver the scheme, so that the new facility can be enjoyed by the whole community. This high quality new leisure centre will provide a wonderful swimming facility to meet both recreational and competitive needs and will help to attract major swimming events to Bristol.”
Parkwood Leisure will operate the facility on behalf of Bristol Active for a period of 25 years. Recognised as the fastest growing private company in the local authority leisure market, Parkwood Leisure currently operates 78 leisure facilities throughout the UK and employs over 4,400 staff.
Andrew Holt, Managing Director of Parkwood Leisure said:
“Parkwood Leisure is already operating a number of centres in the South West region and we are now looking forward to opening this superb new leisure centre in Hengrove, Bristol. The Council should be congratulated for having the vision to add a healthy living centre onto a state of the art leisure centre, which also contains a 50m international standard swimming pool. Parkwood Leisure is proud to have been selected as the operator for such a prestigious facility and is looking forward to developing a proactive partnership with Bristol City Council and all of the other community stakeholders.”