Morgan Sindall to Construct £27 Million Leisure & Library Hub in Bishop Auckland

Durham County Council has chosen Morgan Sindall to build a new leisure centre adjacent to Woodhouse Close in Bishop Auckland, with work expected to begin this summer and complete in late 2026.

Project Overview

• Contract value: £27.3 million funded by the Council and a £2.75 million grant from Sport England

• Facilities included:

  
  

  • A 25m, six-lane main pool and a 20m teaching pool with moveable floor

  • Large gym, two fitness studios and a powered Move Hub rehabilitation suite

  • Sauna, steam rooms, soft play area and café

  • Public library integrated into the building, alongside landscaped outdoor spaces

  
  

• Sustainability targets: Aim for BREEAM Very Good, fully electric services using air-source heat pumps

• Procurement route: Delivered through the UK Leisure Framework and overseen by Alliance Leisure, with lead design by GT3 Architects, planning consultancy by DPP, and project management by Axiom

Risks to Manage

1. Programme timing: The project must start on schedule this summer and conclude by the end of 2026 to avoid extended service disruption and ensure continuity.

2. Cost management: Advanced equipment like heat pumps and accessible facilities may increase upfront spend, requiring tight budget oversight.

3. Community continuity: Maintaining library access during construction and effectively integrating services into the temporary setup are key to preserving goodwill.

Community and Economic Impact

• Health and wellbeing: Provides accessible fitness services for all ages, encouraging active lifestyles.

• Social inclusion: Combining leisure and library under one roof cultivates community cohesion and resource sharing.

• Job creation: Delivers local employment during construction and ongoing roles in facility management and programming.

• Environmental benefit: Fully electric systems and renewables support the Council’s carbon reduction goals.

Delivery Team

• Main contractor: Morgan Sindall – leading construction and sustainable services delivery

• Alliance Leisure: UK Leisure Framework partner, coordinating the overall delivery strategy

• GT3 Architects: Lead architectural design

• DPP: Handling planning and policy compliance

• Axiom: Managing project delivery standards and programme oversight

• Sport England: Strategic funder aligning community and health objectives

Looking Ahead

The new Bishop Auckland hub will replace the ageing Woodhouse Close centre. If delivered as planned, it will stand as a model for multi-use leisure-library spaces—integrating fitness, education, rehabilitation and community services. Morgan Sindall’s involvement confirms its strong track record in regional regeneration and public sector leisure infrastructure.