Braywick Leisure Centre

The complex nature of the mechanical, electrical and public health systems required for Braywick Leisure Centre was amplified by the wide range of sustainable initiatives necessary for the completed project to meet its emission targets.

Procuring the project through the SCAPE Construction framework facilitated collaboration between Wates, Wates Building Services, architects Burke Richards and the M&E engineer Hoare Lea. This allowed them to engage early in the scheme and support the design team before costs for delivering the building were finalised.

This also meant that Wates Building Services, and by extension Wates Drylining Services, were able to provide valuable advice at an early stage to support the installation and co-ordination of MEP services throughout the scheme, streamlining the final design before the construction phase and ensuring all fittings were "right first time".

This spirit of collaboration was also key in overcoming the challenges of the site being partly on landfill, which required several workshops to achieve an efficient and workable design.

The overall outcome of the project was to deliver a landmark project that was on time, on budget and meet all the aspirations of the client in terms of community value and sustainability.

The new facilities include a 10-lane swimming pool, larger splash and training pools, a 200-station gym, four squash courts, a sports hall, a café and an all-weather football pitch. The new building also provides a range of flexible community spaces, providing a state-of-the-art hub, not just for sports but also for arts and a wide range of cultural events.

The building has been designed to deliver just a third of the emissions of its predecessor and was also delivered as a zero-carbon project, with exemplary sustainability credentials through every stage of its life cycle.

In addition to ensuring affordable access to health and wellness facilities by for local residents and leisure centre visitors for years to come, the project sought to promote and support local people at every stage of the process, creating real community value. This included working with local trades where possible, with more than 150 businesses attending a Meet the Buyer event and three quarters of the supply chain being engaged from within 40 miles of the development site. Wates also invested more than £13,000 in social enterprises during the build programme as well as supporting a range of community events including tree planting and gardening events.

The project team also arranged site visits, networking events and assemblies for local schools, as well as arranging 13 work experience placements for local students. Through the Wates’ Building Futures programme, 17 jobseekers passed their CSCS test, with one employed as a gateman since November 2018.