UK Contractor Wins £40.2 Million Sheffield Leisure Centre Contract

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On 6 October, Sheffield City Council in the UK announced the award result for the Springs Leisure Centre redevelopment project, with construction contractor Willmott Dixon Construction Limited winning the design and build contract worth approximately £40.1839 million. The project will deliver the new Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre, featuring a 25-metre swimming pool, a multi-purpose sports hall, fitness facilities and community health service spaces. Public procurement records show that the contract was awarded on 30 September, with an execution start date of 9 November 2026 and a contract end date of 5 March 2029.

The new leisure centre will include a five-court indoor multi-purpose sports hall, a 25-metre standard swimming pool, a 13-metre teaching pool, a health and spa area, and separate wet and dry changing facilities. The building will also feature a multi-purpose fitness hall, three separate activity studios, a children's soft play area, a pool viewing area and a competition-standard indoor bowls hall, along with community health service offices and associated mechanical and electrical facilities. All of the above construction content is included within the scope of this design and build contract.

According to the development plan published by the city council, the new facility will be built on an adjacent plot to the existing leisure centre, which is planned to remain open during construction of the new building. Once the new centre is operational, the existing building will be demolished, and the demolition area will be converted into permeable paving and other supporting spaces. The project also includes plans for accessible parking spaces, bicycle parking facilities and landscaped areas.

Willmott Dixon had previously undertaken pre-construction services for the project, with the relevant contract announced on 19 August 2026, worth approximately £1.8231 million, covering pre-construction design and project development work. This award corresponds to the subsequent main design and construction works. The procurement process closed for bids on 24 September, the contractor was confirmed by the end of September, and the contract result was announced in early October.

Sheffield City Council had previously set the overall budget for the leisure centre redevelopment project at approximately £51 million. The council's latest project timetable shows that construction of the new building is planned to begin in November 2026 and is expected to be completed by September 2028. The council confirmed in February 2026 that the new leisure centre will be named after the late British football referee Uriah Rennie, and the existing Springs Leisure Centre will be renamed upon completion of the project.