BAM secures another major leisure centre scheme

Work on the circa £36 million leisure facilities is set to commence towards the end of November. It will open by the end of 2021.

The scheme includes an eight-lane 25-metre swimming pool with viewing, sports hall, dry diving training facility, squash courts and climbing wall, gym, exercise studios, and a library and community centre, among others.

BAM is currently finalising the contract with Chiltern District Council, and is presently operating under a pre-construction agreement. The project was procured competitively under the Southern Construction Framework.

The current leisure facilities are over 50 years old and described by the local authority as being in urgent need of repair. The old buildings will be demolished and Amersham library has been temporarily re-located.

BAM’s Construction Director Mick Kelly said: ‘These are important changes for local people and we fully appreciate the need to go about our work considerately and respectfully. How we build has always been as important to BAM as what we build. We’ll bring our expertise in creating leisure sector developments to this scheme that will transform the facilities for people here.’

Cllr Mike Stannard, Deputy Leader of Chiltern District Council; and Cabinet Member for Support Services, said: ‘After so many years of planning, it is fantastic that we are finally at the stage where work is starting on site. This is a major development and our priority is to ensure minimal impact on residents, pool users and staff while the work takes place.’

Chiltern District Council’s is also significantly investing in the Chalfont St Peter and Chesham leisure centres, improving the range of facilities and services available.

BAM recently handed over new leisure facilities in Dover, and arguably its first ever leisure contract was the Natural History Museum which it built in 1883. The company also built the Tate Gallery in 1897, yet despite being one of the oldest major contractors, is an acknowledged market leader in modern methods of construction.

Mick Kelly added: ‘When we started trading the camera had not been invented and goods were moved around by horse and cart. Nowadays, we are cleaner, safer, and stablemen have been replaced by hydrogen vehicles, virtual reality engineers and drone pilots. It’s quite an exciting place to work.’

Further information: Mark Slattery, Press and Media Manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd,  01442 238415, www.bam.co.uk.