Construction firm Willmott Dixon has partnered with Westminster City Council on a £36 million project to restore the historic Seymour Centre in Marylebone, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1930s.

The project, procured through the SCF framework, will see the three-storey centre undergo a full restoration, including a refurbished swimming pool, an upgraded five-court sports hall with wheelchair-accessible flooring, and a new open-plan gym. The site will also feature a café and a permanent two-floor home for the Marylebone Library.

Accessibility improvements include the installation of a pool pod for easier entry into the pool. The revamped facility, expected to open in 2026, will cater to the needs of the local community, offering dedicated spaces for children and families, an upgraded climbing centre, an expanded soft play area, and additional buggy parking.

The Seymour Centre's transformation highlights Willmott Dixon's continued collaboration with Westminster City Council and its commitment to preserving historic buildings while enhancing community-focused amenities.

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Willmott Dixon has teamed up with MAKE Architects and Hadron Consulting as project manager to undertake the modernisation.

This is the latest in a series of projects by Willmott Dixon for the council over the past decade. Earlier this year, it was appointed for the Westmead development to build 65 new affordable homes on Tavistock Road, and during the summer it completed a further 112 new homes on 300 Harrow Road. Previously it built Dudley House (below), providing 197 affordable homes in Paddington.

On the Seymour Centre, Cllr David Boothroyd, Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform at Westminster City Council, said: "Our Seymour Centre refurbishment is an incredibly exciting project that will create not just a leisure centre; but a new library and community space in Marylebone for all our residents to enjoy. It will greatly improve the quality of facilities on offer, creating more opportunities for our residents to become, and stay active."

Stewart Brundell, managing director for Willmott Dixon in North London and Eastern Homes Counties, added: "We're delighted to be extending our nearly decade-long relationship with Westminster City County to provide an exciting new future for the popular and historic Seymour Centre. We'll be deploying our specific heritage property restoration skills to rejuvenate the centre as a place serving the community for many generations to come, as well as helping to meet the council's commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030 with improvements to heating, temperature and ventilation in the refurbished centre that will reduce carbon emissions."

Photo: Alan Williams