Wates Construction has landed the contract to build a new £59 million leisure centre and council office complex in Swadlincote. South Derbyshire District Council confirmed the appointment on 8 July 2026, paving the way for work to begin on the former Cadley Colliery off William Nadin Way.
The development will sweep away the 1970s Green Bank Leisure Centre and replace it with a six-court sports hall, swimming facilities, gym, fitness studios, café and flexible community rooms. New municipal offices for the council form part of the same six-acre plot. Wates secured the job after a competitive procurement process and has pledged to hire locally, source materials from nearby suppliers and create apprenticeships and work placements.
Construction is due to start this summer, with the doors expected to open in Spring 2028. Once the new centre is operational, the existing Green Bank Leisure Centre will be demolished, freeing up land that could unlock wider regeneration of the town centre. Council leader Councillor Robert Pearson said the appointment marked a major step forward for Swadlincote.
Plans for the 56,000 sq ft leisure element and 30,000 sq ft office block were submitted in January 2026 and approved by the council’s planning committee on 2 June. Following extensive public consultation with residents, sports clubs and Sport England, the sports hall was expanded from the original four-court proposal to a full six courts to meet future demand. Architects CPMG led the design, supported by a team including Chord Consult, Hexa Consulting and CarneySweeney.
The decision to quit the ageing Civic Way offices and consolidate staff on the new site is part of a wider masterplan being drawn up by consultants BDP and AspinallVerdi. Mark Jones, operations director at Wates Construction, said the firm would work closely with the council and local supply chain to deliver a facility that serves the community for decades.
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