News: Brent Council and Leisure Connection provide London Borough with a £16 million sporting haven!

Leisure, Sport & Fitness

21 January 2006

Brent Council, have signed a contract with a consortium of companies to deliver a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project, which will create a brand new sports and leisure facility in the North-West London borough.

The consortium comprising leading sport and leisure facility management company, Leisure Connection Ltd and PFI specialists Linteum Ltd, will be employing Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects to design and build the facilities.  The project finance is provided by the consortium members and by Barclays Bank Plc.  

Linteum Ltd, Leisure Connection and Brent Council have successfully worked in partnership with Barclays Bank, to achieve financial close on the necessary contractual arrangements that will result in the construction of a brand new £16 million Sports Centre, built in Willesden.

The original Willesden Sports Centre, which was built in the 1960s closed in 2004 and will be replaced with the brand new facility.  Retaining the original name, the new Willesden Sports Centre, will boast:

  25m six lane, Swimming Pool, with spectator facilities
  Teaching pool
  Four-court Sports Hall
  Health and Fitness facilities, including gym and dance studios
  Sauna and steam room
  Martial arts dojo
  Indoor 60 metre 'running tube'
  Flood lit, outdoor 400m running track
  Multi-purpose room
  Landscaping enhancements made to King Edward VII Park, as well as a new play area
  New Changing rooms to serve King Edward VII Park pitches

As well as providing top of the range facilities for residents to benefit from, the centre was designed to complement the neighbouring Willesden Capital City Academy, which has specialist sports college status. This new PFI project will further enhance their sports programme and provide opportunities for other nearby schools.

The construction period will start in March 2005 and the new centre is due to open at the end of 2006.  The contract between the PFI facility provider, Linteum Willesden Limited, and Brent Council will span 25 years from when the centre opens, and has a total value in excess of £50m.

Graham Farrant, Chief Executive of Leisure Connection said:  "This is an exciting and important time for Leisure Connection, Brent Council, our consortium partners and the local Brent people.  The PFI project in Brent will enable the council to provide and offer a brand new first class leisure and sporting facility to people near and far.  PFI projects enable local authorities and their communities to effectively enjoy the benefits associated with investing in leisure and working with a leisure operator will enable partners to focus their resource elsewhere and enjoy the synergy effect."

A spokesman from Linteum adds:  "Linteum is delighted to be a member of the team that has brought the negotiations to a successful conclusion; our thanks go to everyone involved for all of their hard work.  We look forward to providing this important service to the Brent community and are proud to be able to make our contribution."

Cllr Lesley Jones, Lead Member for Environmental Services at Brent Council said: "The people of Willesden - and across Brent - have been waiting a long time for this and I am delighted that all the hard work by officers behind the scenes and our partners has paid off. The new sports centre will bring excellent sporting opportunities to local people and will be invaluable in promoting a healthy, physically active lifestyle for our residents now and for future generations."

Nick Salisbury, Head of Barclays PFI unit, comments:  "This deal clearly shows how private finance initiatives can help fund urban community projects and Barclays is delighted to be able to provide the funding for the Brent Leisure PFI project."

Willesden Sports Centre will be leased to Willesden Community Sports Ltd. This non-profit making Industrial and Provident Society will play an important role within the project. Leisure Connection will operate the leisure facility under a 25 year contract.

1. Willesden Sports Centre is the first Private Finance Initiative to be signed in London.
2. The facility is being redeveloped as part of a PFI with credits from the DCMS.
3. Private sector funding for the project is being provided by Leisure Connection Limited and Linteum Limited, and senior debt by Barclays Bank plc.
4. This is the second PFI project which Leisure Connection has been successful in securing.  The first PFI project for Leisure Connection and the first ever PFI funded leisure centre to open in the UK, opened three years ago on behalf of Uttlesford District Council.  Providing new dual use leisure facilities on two school sites and the major refurbishment of an existing leisure centre, the project, now in its third year of operation, has been recognised as a great success with all three sites fully functioning and working well with the local communities and the schools where they are based respectively.

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