Operator Freedom Leisure has continued its recent momentum by securing the contract to manage three sports centres on behalf of Worcester City Council.

The latest win comes hot on the heels of the recently-acquired Forest Of Dean management contract and the 15 Powys centres in Wales that Freedom Leisure began managing in June, bringing the number of sites it manages to 57.

Under the new contract, Freedom will take on operation of the Nunnery Wood Sports Complex and St John’s Sports Centre. It will also oversee the operation of Perdiswell Leisure Centre, which is due to be extended with the construction of a £10.5m, eight-lane pool extension programme.

The Perdiswell Leisure Centre will undergo major refurbishment as part of the extension, providing new facilities including fitness studios, 120 gym stations (supplier yet to be confirmed), a fully-refurbished sports hall, café and enhanced wheelchair access. While the extension work and pool building is on-going, Freedom Leisure will also manage the swimming pool at Sansome Walk, which is due to close in early 2017 when the new pool opens.

The Worcester contract will start on January 1, 2016 and run for an initial 10-year period with the option of a further three-year extension to be agreed in the future. In addition to operating the leisure sites, Freedom Leisure will also be responsible for the management of the council’s Sport, Arts and Play Development team, which runs many events across the city.

“This is a particularly exciting contract for us including, as it does, the development of a brand new, eight-lane swimming pool,” said Freedom Leisure business development director Ian Morey.

“In addition to this project we have gained three community leisure centres and investment across these will enable us to bring high quality health, fitness and leisure provision to local residents.”