BAM Construction has been chosen as the preferred building contractor to work on the pre-construction phase of the £26m leisure centre in Dover, Kent, following a tender process.

Contract terms between the construction company and Dover District Council are being finalised.

In November, the authority appointed a team of consultants to deliver the project. They included surveyor and designer Faithful+Gould, project manager Hadron Consulting, architect GT-3, engineers M-E Engineers and Engenuiti, management consultant The Sports Consultancy, and planner DHA Planning.

BAM will be joining the project team as its recognised builder to work on the plans.

The new leisure centre will be built on a 2.1 hectare site and will include an eight-lane competition pool and spectator seating for 250 people, a learner pool with moveable floor, four-court sports hall, squash courts, multi-function room, gym, fitness studios, clip ‘n’ climb wall, and a café.

Outside, there will be 3G artificial pitches for five-a-side football, and a minimum of 250 parking spaces.

BAM Construction has a track record of building leisure and sporting facilities, including the new sports centre at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School.

Councillor Trevor Bartlett, the council's cabinet member for property, said: “We are moving quickly to deliver a new leisure centre, providing a modern facility to serve the whole district. We’re delighted to be working with BAM on the detailed plans as we start the pre-construction phase.”

The Dover leisure centre is due to open in 2019.