Willmott Dixon picked for £14m Denton wellness centre

Willmott Dixon will start on a leisure centre featuring an eight-lane swimming pool, fitness suite, and bowling alley in Denton later this year after the project was given planning approval.

The scheme, which is being developed by Network Space and is designed by architect Pozzoni, will also feature a spa, community facilities, meeting rooms, children’s soft play areas, and multi-use studio spaces.

Willmott Dixon has been chosen to deliver the project and is set to begin a 15-month construction programme later this year.

The leisure centre is to be built on a site bordering the M67 and Ashton Road, just along from the Crown Point North retail park. Access will be via the Denton Link Road.

A consultation was held on the plans between October and November last year, and the leisure centre has now been given full planning approval by Tameside Council. The council’s leisure operator will manage the scheme once it completes.

Stephen Barnes, managing director of development at Network Space, said: “Although much of our development pipeline is currently industrial focused, we have the experience and skillset to deliver a diverse range of projects, and in this case, a leisure scheme delivered in partnership with a local authority.

“Working closely with Tameside MBC, Active Tameside and Pozzoni, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that the building meets the needs of the local community, where inclusion is key.”