Wates has won the design and build contract for the £60m Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick for Sandwell Council that will help to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Wates’ appointment follows approval of plans for Sandwell Aquatics Centre last month.
The centre will feature a 50m Olympic-sized competition swimming pool, a 25m diving pool and a studio pool along with 1,000 spectator seats. There will also be an extra 4,000 temporary seats for the Games in 2022, three activity studios, an eight-court sports hall, a 108-station gym and a 25-station women-only gym.
As part of the deal, Wates has committed to hiring a local supply chain and creating an employment and training plan.
The firm, which has a base in Quinton just four miles away from the site of the swimming pool complex, was appointed via Major Works – UK, part of the Scape national construction framework.
John Carlin, regional managing director, Wates Construction Midlands, said: “It is a huge privilege to be appointed as the design and construction partner for this important community facility for Smethwick. As a locally-based company, we’re extremely excited to be part of the area’s changing landscape but more importantly, we’re working hard to create a lasting legacy. We’re committed to delivering an exemplary project that creates a tangible economic and social impact and is completed on time and to budget.”
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, added: “The Sandwell Aquatic Centre is a perfect example of the benefits of using Scape as procurement route, our frameworks are designed for efficiency and certainty, while delivering significant levels of local economic engagement which is vital to Sandwell Council and the success of this project.”
