Delays continue at £34m West Denton leisure club

Morgan Sindall was tipped to take over the project from Willmott Dixon in July last year. However, work – originally tipped to complete in 2024 – is yet to start.

The centre was closed during Covid and has never reopened. Demolition started in November 2023 and since then the site has been cordoned off.

The new centre has been designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, and is backed by £19.8m in Levelling Up Fund support. The facility is to include an eight-lane 25m pool, fitness studio, gym and café, as well as a new library.

Willmott Dixon stood down from the project in 2023, amid escalating costs.

WD had completed pre-construction and enabling works, but with price inflation hitting the industry hard, concluded that it could not deliver the scheme for the £26m originally estimated.

Accepting that costs would inevitably increase, Newcastle City Council launched a search for a new construction partner in September 2023, naming Morgan Sindall last July.

The project received a further £2.5m investment from Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund, with the local authority itself pledging to plug the £7.15m shortfall to make the scheme happen.

Now, it is unlikely the centre will open before 2027.

NCC has said the presence of a high-voltage cable is the latest setback to the project, and that final agreements with the construction firm are yet to be signed.

A council spokesperson said: “Progress is continuing with the enabling works, however the next phase is dependent on Northern Power Grid diverting a high-voltage cable that currently runs across the site.

“This essential work will allow for the realignment of the access road to the shopping centre…

“Regarding the main leisure centre scheme, the building’s external design has been updated and is expected to receive planning approval in the next few days.

“Commercial negotiations with the main contractor are ongoing and we will provide a further update once agreements are finalised.

“Construction of the pool building is anticipated to begin once enabling works are complete, with the centre scheduled for completion later in 2027.”