Places Leisure awarded ten-year contract extension to operate Wandsworth’s leisure and sports centres

Fantastic news!

In Wandsworth Council's commitment to support healthy Communities, we are thrilled to share we have been re-appointed to operate eight of the borough’s leisure centres for the next 10 years with £24 million to be invested to improve facilities and help more residents get active.

The decision to re-appoint Places Leisure was taken by Wandsworth’s Cabinet and follows a competitive tender process. The new contract will begin on 1 October 2025 for at least 10 years, with the option to extend for an additional five years.

As part of our commitment Places Leisure has agreed to invest £5.7million to support the council’s vision to improve, enhance and modernise facilities. They will also launch a new Active Communities programme to encourage inactive residents to move more and continue its support for Access for All, Britain’s best concession scheme, which offers eligible residents 50% to 100% discounts on key leisure services such as gym and swim, including Tooting Bec Lido.

Dan Walker, Business Development Director at Places Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be extending our successful partnership with Wandsworth Council for a further 10 years. As the UK’s Leading Social Enterprise, we recognise the importance that these facilities bring to the local Community and the positive impact they make to residents’ lives.

“The facilities are much loved pillars of the Community. Alongside Wandsworth Council, we are excited to present our investment plans which we believe will transform the services for residents and allow the Community to thrive. This investment will make much-needed upgrades, as well as introduce some exciting new developments which will benefit the local Community.”

Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment at Wandsworth Council, said: "We're committed to helping People move more, feel better and live healthier lives. This new contract ensures residents benefit from excellent, modern facilities both in our centres and out in the Community, especially with the new £24m investment in improvements over the next four years.

“In addition to this investment, we are continuing to seek out even more opportunities to improve our centres, such as recently securing funding from Sport England and investment from the government to make Putney Leisure Centre more carbon and energy efficient. We are committed to delivering the best services for our residents, all while maintaining the lowest Council Tax in the country.

“Places Leisure shares our ambition to make sport and leisure more inclusive, and through our Access for All scheme, eligible residents can enjoy these spaces for 50% to 100% off. The scheme’s success speaks for itself, with 80,000 bookings made in our leisure centres already. I am looking forward to seeing this continue to rise over the next 10 years in our work to build a fairer, more compassionate Wandsworth.”

Which centres are included?

From 1 October, we will manage the following centres. The majority of these are currently managed by us, except for Battersea Sports Centre:

Investing in better facilities

An investment of over £24 million has been agreed to refurbish and modernise several of the borough’s leisure and sports centres, with Wandsworth Council investing £18.3 million and Places Leisure £5.7 million.

Proposed improvements will be phased over the first four years of the contract and include:

  • Putney Leisure Centre: A new reception, cafe, studio, soft play area, party room and health and wellbeing suite. Improvements to pool and refurbishment of changing rooms and fitness suite.
  • Tooting Leisure Centre: A new group cycling studio, soft play area, multi-purpose Community events room and luxury health suite. Improvements to reception and cafe, health and fitness suite, pool and changing rooms.
  • Wandle Recreation Centre: New catering offer, inflatables for sports hall and four new padel tennis courts. Improved health, wellbeing and Community offer.
  • Roehampton Sports & Fitness Centre: Improved fitness and Community offer.
  • Balham Leisure Centre: New luxury health suite, reformer Pilates studio and group ex studio. Improved fitness suite, group cycling studio, reception, changing rooms and pool.
  • Tooting Bec Lido: New splash pad, pool pod and events programme.
  • Battersea Sports Centre: New pop-up padel tennis court and improved health and fitness suite.
  • Latchmere Leisure Centre: New sports hall inflatables and additional water play features. Improved health and fitness suite, wet side area and pool.

Bringing activity into the Community

The new contract features the launch of a new Active Communities programme, designed to reach residents who aren’t currently active. This will involve delivering activities outside of the leisure centres in the local Community, focusing on areas with the greatest need.

In addition, we have committed to continuing delivering successful initiatives such as free swimming lessons for children in years 2-7 who cannot swim 25 metres and supporting Wandsworth Council's Access for All scheme.