Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Gravesham Borough Council for the pre-construction phase of the new £43m Cascades Leisure Centre.

The company will work alongside project architects Space & Place and engineering consultants Atkins-Realis to develop the technical design and specification for the new low-carbon leisure facility, which will replace the existing ageing centre.

Gravesham Borough Council selected Willmott Dixon and its design team following their successful delivery of the nearby Cozenton Park Sports Centre in Rainham for Medway Council – the first new council-built sports centre in Medway for more than 30 years, which opened in 2024.

The project is being partly funded through £17m from the government's £20m Levelling Up Fund allocation to Gravesham Borough Council.

During the pre-construction phase, which runs until August 2026, Willmott Dixon will undertake detailed site surveys, logistics planning and site set-up works. The company will also conduct an asbestos survey of Regan's Bar ahead of its demolition later this year, while ensuring the existing Cascades Leisure Centre remains operational throughout construction.

Richard Poulter, Willmott Dixon's managing director in the South, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council to help shape the future of leisure provision in the borough. This appointment marks a key step forward in bringing the vision for a modern, low-carbon, and inclusive Cascades Leisure Centre to life.”

The pre-construction contract positions Willmott Dixon to progress to main contractor appointment in August 2026, with construction due for completion in December 2028.