Work has started on-site in preparation for a brand-new £24million Haden Hill Leisure Centre.
The new leisure centre will feature a wide range of facilities including a main swimming pool, a learner pool, two multi-purpose studios, a 100-station gym, a 27-station indoor cycling studio, a four-court sports hall and a dedicated community room.
Contractor Speller Metcalfe has now moved onto the site to strip out and then demolish the old centre, with building work on the new one set to start in January 2026.
The redevelopment of the centre, which is expected to open to the public in spring 2027, is being funded by UK Government funding, Sport England and Sandwell Council. The works are being delivered by the council’s trusted leisure development partner, Alliance Leisure, and were procured using the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: “It is fantastic to see work start on this new community facility which will benefit thousands of people’s health and activity levels and I am so looking forward to it opening to the public.
“Over the past decade, we have built five new leisure centres including the magnificent Sandwell Aquatics Centre. This investment at Haden Hill Leisure Centre will ensure we are maintaining our high-quality leisure offer to all residents of Sandwell across our six towns.”
Mark Braithwaite, Chief Executive for Sandwell Leisure Trust, said: "This is another terrific investment into the impressive leisure portfolio of facilities in Sandwell. We are delighted to be working alongside all our key partners to bring a vibrant new leisure facility with innovative programmes and activities that we aim to inspire and support the health and wellbeing of local residents and the wider community.”
Rob Lashford, Regional Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our long-standing partnerships to deliver another high-quality leisure facility for both residents and visitors. With our strong track record in leisure projects, Haden Hill will be a fantastic investment in the health and wellbeing of the local community.”
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place, Sport England, said “It’s great to see work starting on re-developing Haden Hill Leisure Centre giving more people in Sandwell the chance to play sport and be active, helping them to lead healthier lives.
"Our work in Sandwell goes further – we’re embedded in Sandwell and the wider Black Country, investing in and supporting the wider community and local organisations, to understand what is stopping people from being active and working together to deliver local solutions. This way of working is changing lives in Sandwell and local communities across England, making sport and physical activity something for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.”
Julia Goddard, Regional Director at Alliance Leisure, added: "It's fantastic to see work progress on the new Haden Hill Leisure Centre. We have worked tirelessly with the council and our other project partners to produce a scheme that will truly change the lives of local residents for the better.”