Leisure & Neighbourhood Centre Background

The Moat House Leisure & Neighbourhood Centre project came out of widespread and in depth Community Consultation in 2004. The vast majority of Residents who responded to the consultation stated they wanted a Leisure Centre built in the WEHM area.

Various feasibility studies were then undertaken which had to prove the Business case for the new Leisure Centre, and subsequently a Business plan had to be developed.

The project was approved by the NDC Partnership Board and by Government Office West Midlands in 2005. The NDC were funding £9.3M of the cost, and the Council were contributing £500K to the cost. There was a substantial shortfall relating to the total cost and this was going to be met by securing external funding in the sum of $1M plus.

The Council were appointed to project manage this huge project and they began the tendering exercise for the appointment of Architects and other professionals eg Quantity Surveyors. Residents who sit on the NDC partnership Board were involved in the selection of the Architects. After open competition Limbiicks Architects were appointed to bring forward designs for the new L+NC.

Throughout early 2006 Designs were produced and considered and eventually one was "signed off". A comprehensive Community Consultation schedule  was then planned and implemented and the proposed design and layouts were displayed at Residents fun days eg "Summer Bash" and also at Residents Associations Meetings and other meetings.  The feedback from these consultations was all positive.

In early 2007 a tendering exercise was undertaken for the Contactor who would build the L+NC. Again Residents were involved in the process and after rigorous appraisal Miller Construction were appointed.

At the beginning of January 2008 Miller Construction went on site to commence ground clearance and setting up.

The centre was complete and open to the public on Monday March 2nd 2009

December 2007 - Plans for the centre are unveiled	January 2008 - Ground work begins on site	March 2008 - Main structure is erected
April 2008 - Members of Partnership Board go on site for a tour	April 2008 - Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe pays a visit	August 2008 - Internal work begins
September 2008 - External work begins	November 2008 - Windows are fitted	January 2009 - Building is complete inside and outside