Project starts on £24m Haden Hill Leisure Centre
The long-awaited transformation of Haden Hill Leisure Centre is now officially underway. Contractor Speller Metcalfe has moved on-site to begin stripping out and demolishing the old building, with construction of the brand-new centre due to start in January 2026.
The new facility will feature a wide range of modern amenities, including a main swimming pool, a learner pool, two multi-purpose studios, a 100-station gym, a 27-station indoor cycling studio, a four-court sports hall and a dedicated community room. The redevelopment is expected to open to the public in spring 2027.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said the project represents another major investment in local health and wellbeing: “It is fantastic to see work start on this new community facility which will benefit thousands of people’s health and activity levels and I am so looking forward to it opening to the public. Over the past decade, we have built five new leisure centres including the magnificent Sandwell Aquatics Centre. This investment at Haden Hill Leisure Centre will ensure we are maintaining our high-quality leisure offer to all residents of Sandwell across our six towns.”
An artist’s impression of the new Haden Hill Leisure Centre shows a striking, modern design that will soon take shape on the site – bringing with it exciting new opportunities for the local community.
Mark Braithwaite, Chief Executive of Sandwell Leisure Trust, highlighted the benefits of the new centre for local people: “This is another terrific investment into the impressive leisure portfolio of facilities in Sandwell. We are delighted to be working alongside all our key partners to bring a vibrant new leisure facility with innovative programmes and activities that we aim to inspire and support the health and wellbeing of local residents and the wider community.”
Speller Metcalfe, who are leading the construction, also emphasised the value of the project.
Rob Lashford, Regional Director, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our long-standing partnerships to deliver another high-quality leisure facility for both residents and visitors. With our strong track record in leisure projects, Haden Hill will be a fantastic investment in the health and wellbeing of the local community.”
Sport England, one of the key funding partners, stressed the importance of improving access to activity for all.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place, said: “It’s great to see work starting on re-developing Haden Hill Leisure Centre giving more people in Sandwell the chance to play sport and be active, helping them to lead healthier lives. Our work in Sandwell goes further – we’re embedded in Sandwell and the wider Black Country, investing in and supporting the wider community and local organisations, to understand what is stopping people from being active and working together to deliver local solutions. This way of working is changing lives in Sandwell and local communities across England, making sport and physical activity something for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.”
Julia Goddard, Regional Director at Alliance Leisure, echoed this enthusiasm: “It’s fantastic to see work progress on the new Haden Hill Leisure Centre. We have worked tirelessly with the council and our other project partners to produce a scheme that will truly change the lives of local residents for the better.”
The redevelopment has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Government, Sport England and Sandwell Council. The project is being delivered in partnership with Alliance Leisure and procured through the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Image credits: Roberts Limbrick Architects