Epping Forest District Council has named Places for People Leisure as its new leisure partner in a 20-year contract.
The contract which is due to start on 1 April 2017 includes plans for a brand new £9.5m leisure facility at Waltham Abbey (pictured) to replace the existing Waltham Abbey Swimming Pool as well as significant investment to the existing centres, including Epping Sports Centre, Loughton Leisure Centre and Ongar Leisure Centre.
Places for People Leisure won the contract to design and build the proposed new Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre with their construction partners Pellikaan Construction and architects Pozzoni.
Subject to detailed planning permission, the new Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre which has been designed with a green roof to complement the surrounding recreational ground, will feature a 25m six lane pool with 15m learner pool, dance and group cycling studio, virtual cycling, a community room, and café.
It will also feature an 80 station fitness suite that includes the latest equipment from Precor, Technogym, Wattbike, Queenax, D2F, Octane Fitness, Spinning and Les Mills.
Enhancements to the three existing leisure centres will include a substantial extension of the health and fitness offer at Loughton Leisure Centre, a wide-ranging remodelling of the internal layout of Epping Sports Centre, and a refurbishment of Ongar Sports Centre.
Sandra Dodd, Chief Executive at Places for People Leisure commented, “We are delighted to have been awarded the leisure management contract by Epping Forest District Council and are looking forward to working with the 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.”
Epping Forest District Council’s Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor Helen Kane said: “I am extremely pleased that Places for People Leisure has been awarded the contract to deliver top class leisure facilities in the district. I am looking forward to working with the Places for People team over the coming years to improve opportunities for all members of the community to participate and enjoy a more active and healthier lifestyle.”
Places for People Leisure currently partners 35 local authorities, managing 112 leisure centres across England. Its sites attract over 30 million visits every year and in the past ten years the award winning organisation has built 14 new leisure facilities.