Facility operator Parkwood Leisure has secured a 15-year lease to run Grange Leisure & Community Centre near Swindon.

As part of the deal, Parkwood will receive £850,000 investment from the centre's owner, Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, to redevelop the site. Plans include upgrades to the gym floor, a dedicated functional training area and two new fitness studios.

The agreement is the 15th new site secured by Parkwood in 2019 – taking the number of facilities it manages in the UK close to 100.

In addition to the sites operating under Parkwood’s ‘Leisure Centre’ brand, the operator has also recently secured contracts to run two visitor attractions – Plantasia, an indoor tropical rainforest experience in Swansea; and Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire.

“While leisure facility management remains at the core of what we do, our experience and expertise mean we are able to extend out our services – supported by our Outdoors and Theatres brands – to the broader leisure industry,” said Parkwood managing director Glen Hall.

“Our recent expansion not only consolidates and strengthens our position in this sector, but also by diversifying our portfolio of sites, it enables us to engage with even more communities through physical activity, social, cultural and leisure provision.”