Malvern contractor Speller Metcalfe to deliver £12 m improvements to Dudley’s leisure provision

Malvern based building contractor Speller Metcalfe has been given the go ahead to deliver more than £12 million of improvements to Dudley’s leisure provision.

Work began this week at Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge, where a £4.1m refurbishment and maintenance programme is in place to bring facilities up-to-date on behalf of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

This includes improvements to the leisure pool and remodelling the wet change areas into an increasingly popular ‘village’ arrangement.

Meanwhile Speller Metcalfe is also set to start work next month at Halesowen Leisure Centre, where a major £8.7 million programme of improvements has been earmarked for development.

This includes a new entrance, reception, café and adventure play provision for children.

There will also be major changes to the swimming pool to cater for learner and advanced swimmers, new ‘village style’ changing rooms, a pool-side viewing area and a state-of-the-art fitness suite.

Rob Lashford, regional director at Speller Metcalfe said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and Alliance Leisure to deliver both the Crystal and Halesowen leisure centre schemes.

“We are already on site undertaking our second project at Dudley College of Technology as well as delivering the new Moor Lane Extra Care facility down the road in Sandwell so these two new projects will only further increase employment opportunities for sub-contractors and suppliers from Dudley and the surrounding area.”

Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member responsible for leisure centres, said: “Regular users of the centre told us improvements were needed to the changing rooms. As a listening council we have got the ball rolling on that and contractors are in there this week ripping them out.

“We are already seeing the new Dudley Leisure Centre taking shape but with the potential for improvements at Halesowen and Crystal, the future looks very bright for leisure centre users.”

Both Halesowen and Crystal leisure centres will have significant repairs carried out as part of the proposals, led by Development Partner Alliance Leisure.

Julia Goddard, Senior Business Development Manager, Alliance Leisure, said: “This extensive investment in the leisure portfolio will transform the leisure provision for residents throughout the Borough, bringing new opportunities for everyone to enjoy a fantastic array of modern facilities.

“Alliance Leisure will be managing the project in close liaison with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and all works will be delivered via the UK Leisure Framework, owned by Denbighshire Council and Managed by Denbighshire Leisure.”

The plans are part of a wider major regeneration programme bringing over £1bn investment to the town centre, which includes a new £18.2m Dudley leisure centre that will benefit from excellent public transport links through the forthcoming adjacent Metro stop and the nearby bus Interchange.

Work is set to complete at Crystal Leisure Centre this autumn, followed by Halesowen Leisure Centre in 2022.