Contractor scores £40 million leisure centre work

A building contractor has added bounce to its order book after securing a £40 million fitness hub deal.

Willmott Dixon is set to build the Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre.

Planned to replace Sheffield’s Springs Leisure Centre, officials say the “landmark facility will serve the community for many years to come”.

They add the Steel City base will include a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool, gyms, a five-court sports hall, fitness studios and a four-rink indoor bowls hall.

Work on the hub – named after the late Uriah Rennie, who made history as the Premier League’s first black referee – is expected to start in November and be completed in September 2028.

The development will be carried out in two phases, with the new centre – designed by Guiseley and Loughborough-based Watson Batty – built on a two-acre site next to the existing hub before the latter is demolished.

Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon, which has been appointed to the scheme by Sheffield City Council, said: “We will deliver a high-quality, sustainable facility while creating lasting social value through local employment, training and community engagement opportunities.”

Councillor Brian Holmshaw, Sheffield City Council’s communities, parks and leisure committee chair, added: “We want people to have access to high-quality, welcoming and accessible facilities that make it easier to be active, support healthier lives and provide something for people of all ages.

“The Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre is a major part of that ambition.”

The Sheffield project adds to Willmott Dixon’s leisure portfolio, which includes work in Bedfordshire, Portsmouth and Gravesham.

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