Planning approved for Sandwell’s new £24m leisure centre

Sandwell Council has given planning permission for the redevelopment of Haden Hill Leisure Centre in Cradley Heath. The proposals will see the existing facility being demolished and rebuilt.

The new centre will feature a main swimming pool, 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 £24m redevelopment is being funded by UK Government funding, Sport England and Sandwell Council. It was procured using Alliance Leisure, part of the UK Leisure Framework, which is owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.

Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “I’m glad to see further progress on the Haden Hill site and look forward to it opening to the public. Over the last 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 the six towns.”

Mark Braithwaite, CEO of Sandwell Leisure Trust – which will operate the centre – said: “We are delighted to see further progress towards the rebuilding of this much-loved facility, and we will continue to support all project partners to deliver another fantastic investment for Sandwell.”

Contractor, Speller Metcalfe, has joined the design team and has successfully completed the design up to RIBA Stage 3. The project is expected to break ground in November 2025, with an anticipated completion date of Spring 2027.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place, Sport England, said: “Redeveloping Haden Hill Leisure Centre will give more people in Sandwell the chance to play sport and be active, helping them to lead healthier lives.”