Construction of the brand-new Haden Hill Leisure Centre is set to begin by the end of April, as work continues to demolish the old building.
Demolition work at the former Haden Hill Leisure Centre began in September 2025 and is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.
The new £24million centre in Barrs Road will feature a wide range of facilities including a main swimming pool, a 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. It is expected to open to the public in autumn 2027.
During the demolition, contractors identified higher-than-expected levels of asbestos within parts of the building. This had not been detected in earlier surveys due to the way the centre was constructed in the 1970s. Asbestos continues to be safely removed and managed in line with strict regulations and there has been no risk to workers or the public.
Around 80 per cent of the building has been demolished, marking a significant milestone in the project. As a result of the additional asbestos works, the demolition phase is now expected to be completed by the end of April 2026, rather than the end of January as originally planned.
Construction of the new Haden Hill Leisure Centre is scheduled to begin shortly after the demolition is completed, by contractors Speller Metcalfe.
The redevelopment of the centre is being funded by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Sport England and Sandwell Council. The works are being delivered by the council’s trusted leisure development partner, Alliance Leisure, and were procured using the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: “Really good progress is being made on the demolition and we’re looking forward to the building work beginning at the end of next month.
“This new community facility will benefit thousands of people’s health and activity levels and I am so looking forward to it opening to the public. It’s the sixth brand new leisure centre we will have built in Sandwell over the past decade.”
Mark Braithwaite, Chief Executive for Kore Sandwell, said: "“This is a really exciting milestone for Haden Hill and the wider community in Sandwell. The upgraded centre will be a fantastic, modern space that supports our community lead more active lifestyles.”
Rob Lashford, Regional Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “It’s great to be in the final stages of the demolition of the old Haden Hill Leisure Centre. We’re excited to get started on developing the new facility, and it’s been encouraging to see how excited the local community is about what’s to come. Knowing we’re playing a role in delivering something valuable for the community is hugely rewarding, and we look forward to making the new centre a reality.”
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place, Sport England, said “It’s great to see work starting on delivering the brand-new Haden Hill Leisure Centre giving more people in Sandwell the chance to play sport and be active, helping them to lead healthier lives.
"Our work in Sandwell goes further – we’re embedded in Sandwell and the wider Black Country, investing in and supporting the wider community and local organisations, to understand what is stopping people from being active and working together to deliver local solutions. This way of working is changing lives in Sandwell and local communities across England, making sport and physical activity something for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.”
Julia Goddard, Regional Director at Alliance Leisure, added: "The additional works required during demolition have demonstrated the strength of this partnership and the capability of the UK Leisure Framework supply chain partners, who have worked collaboratively and maintained a strong focus on safety and quality. We’re pleased to have overcome these challenges without losing momentum on the project.
"Together with Sandwell Council and our expert delivery partners, Alliance Leisure are proud to be delivering a facility that will make a lasting difference to the health and wellbeing of the local community for generations to come.”