Council appoints operator for new leisure centre

GLL will run the facility in partnership with the council until at least 2035, ensuring a single operator for all council-owned swimming pools and leisure centres in the borough.

The company currently manages Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Centre, Highgrove Pool and Fitness Centre, Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre, and Queensmead Sports Centre. 

The new state-of-the-art leisure facility will open this autumn and feature a 25-metre swimming pool, teaching pool, splash pad with flume and health and fitness suite with two aerobic studios. There will also be soft play, a climbing facility, sports hall with four badminton courts, rooftop 3G astro turf football pitch and cafe area.  

Once the mechanical and engineering works at the centre are complete, the next phase of the project will focus on delivering the visitor areas and preparing them for GLL to install new equipment in the gym, aerobics studio and sports hall. 

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: "We're delighted to be continuing our relationship with GLL and have the benefit of its experience and expertise for our latest facility. It will also ensure that pricing will be the same for any resident or service user across all five facilities, providing good value for money. 

"We're looking forward to seeing the centre open later this year and giving residents in Yiewsley and West Drayton access to high quality facilities to help improve their health and wellbeing, while supporting one of our five commitments to residents to create thriving healthy households.'' 

Keely Shelton, GLL's Partnership Manager for Hillingdon said: "We are delighted to add West Drayton's Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre to the facilities we run in partnership with Hillingdon Council.

"As a charitable social enterprise with 32 years' experience of running first class amenities like these, we will be prioritising programmes that expand community access, increase levels of participation and contribute measurably to improving the local health and wellbeing.

"Our operating model reinvests in the local community - including providing our GLL Sport Foundation.  We look forward to seeing Hillingdon's future athletic heroes using all our managed spaces to train and reach their potential - inspiring local young people as they do so."

For more information about the council's sports and leisure facilities, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/leisurecentres