Test Valley Borough Council has appointed Places for People Leisure (PPL) to manage its leisure centres on a 30-year contract starting on 1 April 2017.

The deal will include “significant investment” in improving the borough’s leisure facilities – including replacing the ageing Andover Leisure Centre with a brand new facility.

There will also be a number of improvements to four other centres – Romsey Rapids, Romsey Sports Centre, Knightwood Leisure Centre and Charlton Lakeside Pavilion.

The new Andover Leisure Centre will feature a 25m six-lane swimming pool with 15m learner pool, 165-station fitness suite, virtual cycling studio, dance studios, an eight court sports hall, squash courts, adventure play and café.

There will also be a splash pad and Clip and Climb centre to encourage families and young people to the centre. PPL will build the new Andover Leisure Centre with its construction partners Pellikaan Construction and architects Roberts Limbrick.

Other works to be undertaken as part of the management deal include enhancements to three existing leisure centres – including new fitness suites at Romsey Rapids and Knightwood Leisure Centres.

PPL manages 112 centres on behalf of 35 local authorities across England.

Test Valley Borough Council’s community and leisure portfolio holder, councillor Tony Ward, said: “The process to award the contract has taken the best part of 18 months and has involved a huge amount of work to get the best possible outcome for our residents.

“I am looking forward to working with the PPL team over the coming years and ensuring that we deliver the high quality leisure facilities that our residents deserve and expect.”