The Midlands office of national construction firm Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Sandwell Council to build a new multi-million pound pool and leisure centre in the Black Country.
The new £8 million complex, which will include a 25-metre swimming pool, is to be built on vacant land at the junction of Alexandra Road and Thursfield Road in Tipton.
Construction of the leisure centre, which will also include a learner pool, gym, changing facilities, dance studio and community space, as well as a landscaped urban piazza, is due to start in January 2012, with completion in February 2013.
Once built the pool will replace the existing Tipton Swimming Centre on Queens Road.
Willmott Dixon employs more than 770 staff across the East and West Midlands and turns over more than £154m, £80m of which is spent with local businesses.
The company has had a long-term presence in Tipton, and recently completed the award-winning RSA Academy on Bilston Road, Gospel Oak, on the site of Willingsworth High School.
Martin Adie, operations director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a fantastic project win for Willmott Dixon. While this is the company’s first leisure centre construction project in the Black Country, we have extensive experience constucting such facilities across the UK, including building more than 100 pools in the last 15 years. We’ll bring this considerable know-how to our new project for Sandwell Council.
“We’re looking forward to getting on site and starting construction to deliver a new community leisure centre for the people of Tipton to use and enjoy.”
Sandwell Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for strategic resources Steve Eling said: “This construction is a really exciting project. It has reached a landmark stage with the letting of the contract to Wilmott Dixon and once completed it will be welcomed by everyone in Tipton.”