Willmott Dixon has been appointed to develop a £26 million state-of-the-art leisure facility for Newcastle City Council in West Denton.

The company has been procured through Pagabo's Major Works Framework to build Outer West Leisure Centre after the project received almost £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

It will replace the former West Denton Pool and existing All Saints Sports Centre, which have served the local community for over half a century, with a facility that includes a 25-metre eight lane swimming pool, a learner pool, splash pad, new library, fitness studios, a café and a modern gym.

Outer West Leisure Centre is expected to attract over 500,000 visits per year and generate 27 new full-time jobs while providing training opportunities for local people.

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The project will deliver a social return on investment equivalent to 22% of the project value for local people in Newcastle.

A key aim will be to develop local skills and education in addition to planned visits from local schools and the creation of 100 apprenticeship hours. Willmott Dixon will also run two Building Lives Academy programmes for young people, aged 16-25, no longer in the education system and currently not working or being trained for work.

Councillor Lesley Storey, the Council's Cabinet Member for a Vibrant City, with responsibility for leisure, said: "Outer West will offer residents excellent health, community and leisure facilities and become a showcase building for the city with its eight-lane pool, sports hall, and library among other things.

"We have actively encouraged local people to have their say on what they would like to see in the leisure centre, and we now have a proposed building that will cater for people of all interests, ages, and backgrounds. I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and look forward to the building opening."