Wates Construction, the contractor building Birmingham City
Council's new £12m Harborne Leisure Centre is set to put the
finishing touches to the brand new facilities on Lordswood
Road.
Once complete the new pool and leisure centre will provide a 25m
swimming pool, fitness suite, training pool, community room and a
state-of-the-art youth gym, designed specifically for children aged
eight to 16 years old.
The project has seen Wates work in partnership with Birmingham
City Council's Urban Design to deliver the city's first swimming
pool in 20 years.
Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council said "The
Harborne Pool Project has been an excellent example of what can be
achieved with close partnership working, especially with the
programme below budget and on time. I am confident these
spectacular facilities will galvanise a whole new generation from
the local community to get fit especially in the lead up to the
London Olympics".
Construction on the new facilities began in February 2010 and
has received praise from the Chartered Institute of Building
(CIOB), who hailed the project as an example of best practice when
members of the organisation visited the site in April this
year.
During construction, Wates also shone in an inspection from the
Considerate Constructors Scheme, who identified the contractor as
'outstanding' in its ongoing consultation with the community.
Birmingham's school pupils also visited the site in May of this
year to see the progress of their new swimming pool.
Andy Hands, Business Manager of Wates Construction in the
Midlands, commented: "I am delighted to see that we are nearing
completion of such an important project. This is set to become a
flagship leisure centre of which Birmingham and its people can be
very proud. We have maintained close consultation with both
Birmingham City Council's Urban Design team and the local community
to ensure this project has remained on track, on budget and with
minimal disruption."
Birmingham City Council will be working with its partners to
deliver the opening of the new centre in early January 2012.
Although the facility build has been largely completed there
will be a commissioning phase undertaken including staff
familiarisation and training.
This phase will include the delivery of fitness and other key
equipment and installation of the operating systems in preparation
for the grand public opening.