BAM awarded £16m Sheffield City Council construction contract

Sheffield City Council have awarded a £16m contract to BAM Construction for the renovation of Graves Leisure Centre in the Steel City.

The Leeds-based contractor has been tasked to build an array of swimming, fitness and medical facilities to accompany the existing tennis centre.

The brand new features will include a gym and fitness area, trampoline space, dance studios, a 25m swimming pool as well as a smaller training pool, and X-ray and clinical examination rooms.

Building of the leisure centre commenced just last week, and the whole facility is expected to be completed in summer 2016.

BAM is currently constructing another new leisure centre in Huddersfield, and approximately 80% of the supply chain by project value will be transported to the Sheffield site. Photovoltaic cells and other renewable energy will be implemented in order to reach the project’s sustainability goals.

As part of the YORbuild framework, BAM plans on collaborating with local workers, suppliers and the community while building the leisure centre.

Noel Banfield, BAM senior design manager, said: “We are very much looking forward to beginning on this important project, which will contribute to health and wellbeing in Sheffield and beyond.

“Building and testing swimming pools in particular is very technical and complex, so we are delighted to be bringing across much of the management and wider team from the Huddersfield scheme. This will bring huge efficiency benefits to the project to extend these facilities.

“We have strong credentials in the health and leisure sectors and this depth of experience will ensure that people in Sheffield get excellent new facilities.”

Councillor Isobel Bowler, cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure at Sheffield City Council, added: “Here in Sheffield we have a proud sporting heritage and it is important that we build upon that to create the right environment in which the sportsmen and women of the future can train, develop and thrive.

“But it isn’t just about the elite, it is about every man, woman and child in our city being fitter, healthier and enjoying physical activity. This completely revamped leisure centre at Graves will be a top-class venue at which people from all walks of life can swim, take part in team sports and join in fitness sessions to make them happier and healthier.”