Work begins on £43m Kent leisure centre

Work has officially begun on the £43m Cascades Leisure Centre project in Kent, after Gravesham Borough Council has signed a pre-construction contract with Willmott Dixon.

Under the pre-contract agreement, Willmott Dixon will work alongside project architects Space & Place and engineering consultants Atkins-Realis to develop the technical design and specification for the new low-carbon leisure facility. The move comes after the green light was given earlier this year for the allocation of £20 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund towards the project.

£17 million of the funding will be used to help replace the ageing Cascades Leisure Centre with a new health and wellbeing hub.

The remaining £3 million will be used to deliver a range of initiatives within the borough’s urban areas, to improve public spaces, create new workspaces for small businesses and accommodate new community uses. The Cascades Leisure Centre project will see a new, £42.9 million low-carbon building that can host regional events alongside an improved family-fun offer.

The centre will include a 25m pool, 17m learner pool, an aqua play and water flume area, along with a spectator viewing area. There will also be a sports hall with six courts and tiered seating, a multi-level soft play zone, party and community rooms and a café, all on the ground floor.

The agreement runs until August 2026. At this point a main contractor will be appointed to build the new leisure centre. The new centre is due to be completed in December 2028.