It has already approved plans to demolish and rebuild its Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre, at a cost of £13.5m. The council’s cabinet meets today to ratify a plan to procure this work under a framework contract to save money on procuring future projects.
The design, build, operate and maintain contract for Sparkhill would act as the evaluation tool for setting up the framework, with Sparkhill then becoming the first contract award.
Cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, Cllr Martin Mullaney, said: “From our research it is clear that we can make considerable savings on the Sparkhill project and that’s why we have decided to go out to tender.
“Now we hope the Sparkhill procurement process can lay the groundwork for any future community pool projects in Birmingham. If this report is approved it will represent another significant step forward for our ambitious swimming pool strategy.”
The new Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre will include a 25m pool, a 13m learner pool, fitness, dance and exercise studios, and changing facilities.
If Cabinet approves the plan today, a competitive tender process will begin immediately, with the new community pool and leisure centre scheduled for completion in the summer of 2014.
The old Sparkill pool, built in the 1930s, was closed in 2008 after a ceiling tile containing asbestos fell into the water.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
