The two-year contract, awarded by Mole Valley District Council, covers a number of projects at the centre, including a new two storey extension, a gymnasium, studio and consultation rooms, two squash courts, a multi-use games area and the filling-in of a disused boating lake.

VolkerFitzpatrick's Regional Manager Mark White said "when completed, this refurbishment and extension will mean the people of Leatherhead will have a state of the art leisure centre, in a building which is designed to meet the needs of the local population. The scheme will also improve the current centre's environmental footprint".

The work will be conducted under the Improvement and Efficiency South East (IESE) framework, the South East's regional partnership established in response to the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy, and administered by Hampshire County Council. Keith Heard, from the Hampshire County Council's construction procurement team, said: "When local authorities use the IESE regional construction framework to appoint a contractor, they know they are getting a proven, experienced contractor at a very competitive price. We can give Mole Valley District Council the benefit of real economies of scale, as well as peace of mind. Leatherhead's residents are therefore getting real value for money from their new centre."

IESE

IESE has been established by the South East Regional Improvement & Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) to help the region's 74 local authorities in their drive to increase efficiency and improve services. The major project building work stream is managed by Hampshire County Council. VolkerFitzpatrick are one the Framework contractors for delivery of the four year long building programme. The benefits to Mole Valley District Council are efficient procurement, streamlined processes and easy access to value assessed framework contractors.

The contract will also include:

• a children's soft play area and crèche
• a new wetside changing area
• the refurbishment of the current dryside changing area and club rooms
• a refurbished café and viewing gallery
• two large function rooms
• a new entrance foyer
• improvement of the current sports hall
• retiling of the swimming pool
• the landscaping of the front extension
• works designed to improve energy usage and the efficiency of existing plant.