BAM set for 30€m Dover leisure centre
Dover District Council has named BAM Construction is its preferred contractor for the pre-construction phase of the new 30€m Dover District Leisure Centre.
DOVER leisure centre
This follows a competitive tender held towards the end of 2016 procured through the Southern Construction Framework. Contract terms are currently being finalised.
The council plans to demolish the town’s 40 year-old swimming pool and build the leisure centre in neighbouring Whitfield where it will be centrally located to provide the only lane-swimming pool serving Dover, Deal and Sandwich, and the surrounding rural communities.
Plans have been drawn up by Nottingham-based GT3 architects. If all goes to plan construction of the new larger leisure centre will start in October.
At the heart of the centre would be an eight-lane 25m county-standard competition swimming pool with spectator seating for 250 people, as well as a leaderner pool with a moveable floor to allow for varying depths of water.
Other facilities proposed include a four court sports hall, two outdoor artificial five-a-side football pitches, a clip ‘n’ climb climbing wall, a 120-station health and fitness gym, two squash courts, three multi-activity studios, one spin studio, a sauna, steam room and cafe.
DOVER 3D - Pool interior 4-rev 3
Externally there will be 3G artificial pitches for five-a-side football, and a minimum of 250 parking spaces.
BAM Construction has a strong track record of building leisure and sporting facilities to a high standard locally, including the new sports centre at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School.
The facility is being developed on a 2.1-hectare site in Whitfield. Features will include an eight-lane competition standard pool and spectator seating for 250, as well as a learner pool with moveable floor, four-court sports hall, squash courts, multi-function room, gym, fitness studios, clip 'n' climb wall, and a café. 3G pitches will also be developed externally, along with 250 parking spaces.
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Darren Birch, BAM's Framework Manager, said: "We were really pleased to receive feedback that BAM's team stood out as enthusiastic and one Dover could work with. That's something we now have to turn into detailed plans for this exciting new building."
Cllr Trevor Bartlett added: "We are moving quickly to deliver a new leisure centre, providing a modern facility to serve the whole district. We're delighted to be working with BAM on the detailed plans as we start the pre-construction phase."