Facility development specialist Alliance Leisure has been appointed to lead a new UK leisure framework, which could help providers around the country save cash and time when it comes to developing facilities in their area.

As Denbighshire County Council's partner in the scheme, Alliance Leisure will be at the forefront of the delivery of design, refurbishment, construction, equipping and development of leisure centres, theatres, play, recreation and sports facilities across the UK public sector. It will also provide marketing support.

The two organisations have worked together on eight projects over the past four years and are now offering their expertise through the model. They say that the framework will make it easier and more cost-effective for public sector providers to scope, develop and deliver physical leisure developments.

The framework, which is available until January 2021, has a potential value of £750m (US$923.5m, €874.7m), with the maximum cost of any project at £20m (US$24.6m, €23.3m).

It is open to any public sector organisation including local authorities, leisure trusts and private limited companies operating leisure facilities on behalf of UK public sector clients.

Alliance Leisure has selected a number of contractors, architects, specialist advisors and equipment suppliers, to provide services across a number of categories including; feasibility studies and business planning, design management and services, construction, sourcing and provision of private funding, marketing, branding and sales development and equipment provision.

Councillor Hugh Evans, leader of the county authority, said: “Traditionally, procuring development works is a costly and time consuming headache for local authority leisure providers. The framework will simplify the whole process making it more cost and time efficient. It will also ensure only suppliers with proven track records are engaged, mitigating the risk involved when selecting delivery partners to ensure value for money to the public sector.”

 Sarah Watts, Alliance Leisure chief executive officer, said: “Denbighshire County Council is leading the way with this framework, which is focused on reducing costs and improving efficiencies for both the client and the contractor, ensuring a larger percentage of the client’s overall budget is allocated to the development project, rather than the procurement process. 

 “The option to use the framework’s marketing services is also unique. Alliance Leisure is able to provide these services on an income-share basis, without the need for any upfront payment. The client is then only required to make payments when pre-agreed income targets are met.”