ELITE CONSTRUCTION VOL3 ISSUE11

PERDISWELL LEISURE CENTRE - SPELLAR METCALFES KEY
PROJECT 2017
Speller Metcalfe was selected from an
initial shortlist of nine companies for the
contract to build a new £10.5 million, pool
complex as an extension to Perdiswell
Leisure Centre in Worcester (contract
value £9m). The focal point being a new
eight-lane competition standard pool,
designed to attract everyone from casual
swimmers to Olympic and Paralympic
champions.
The main 25 x 17m eight-lane pool boasts
poolside seating for 284 spectators with
a further 118 seats around the poolside
for swimmers. The pool hall also hosts
a new 18x10 metre teaching pool with
a movable f’loor – creating f’lexibility for
swimmers of all ages and abilities with
direct wheelchair access into each pool.
As well as local authority funding,
Worcester City Council’s eligibility for
National Lottery funding from Sport
England has proved fundamental to the
success of the scheme, attracting the
maximum funding of £2m for the project.
The new facility provides a massive
boost to the city of Worcester’s sporting
credentials, guaranteeing it will become
an important new destination for regional
competition-level swimming.
The new centre also supports healthy and
active lifestyles across the county, with the
opening weekend seeing 6000 visitors through
the door and over 750 new members signing
up.
Speller Metcalfe began work on the new pool
in November 2015, starting with the demolition
of a large section of the existing building that
was replaced with a two-storey extension which
incorporates a range of new facilities. To meet
Sport England’s requirements for the centre,
project architect NORR Consultants invested
in the principles of Sport England’s Design
Guidance Notes (DGNs). Great emphasis was
placed by both Sport England and the client
on disabled access and inclusivity with facilities
for both spectators and pool users, including
level access into the building, disabled lifts and
parking within close proximity of the entrance.
Elite Publishing Limited | www.elitepublishing.co.uk
36