KKP has recently been appointed by the North West local authority as it embarks on its Building Schools for the Future programme. A preferred bidder has been confirmed and detailed delivery plans are being delivered.

A Leisure Facility Review for Bolton

Bolton has also been selected to move forward with the national BSF programme. It is set to receive £82.9m to refurbish and rebuild a number of secondary schools as part of the first phase, which is planned to take place over the next three years. Two additional bids, each of around £80m, will follow.

KKP has been commissioned to conduct a Leisure Facility Review - an evidenced based, detailed strategic review of Council owned sport and leisure facilities to deliver:

• An accurate picture of facility based sport and leisure provision in the borough.
• A clear picture of supply, demand for and access to leisure services and facilities in Bolton
• A challenge to conventional facility-based provision taking account of potential links between leisure facilities, the secondary school development programme and (as relevant) LIFT facilities and town centres commercial redevelopment opportunities; plus the need to attract greater visitor numbers through leisure choice
• Evaluation of the relative merits of options available for facility development and full support to the Council in considering and selecting its preferred option(s).
• High level recommendations and implementation plans on how to fund, develop, and deliver future recommended facility development option(s).

The timing of the BSF investment, the LIFT programme and the building of a new pool in Bolton town centre offers an ideal opportunity to link major capital programmes together and develop truly integrated services that reflect community need. There is potential to create a network with coverage of the whole Borough where leisure facilities (whether located on or off school sites) are fully accessible and affordable to the community outside of core school use.

Dave McHendry, KKP's resident BSF expert is leading on both these studies. He has delivered a range of sports facilities strategies to support BSF and LDF planning and has direct experience of BSF planning and facility development with commercial developers, public private partnerships and PFI. He is currently supporting Somerset with the procurement of its LEP partner and has managed a range of facility developments incorporating liaison with architects, contractors, planners, developers and legal advisors.

He said,

"From a sports perspective, we are keen for BSF to lead to a new generation of schools that both support increased physical activity in the curriculum and embed a practical concept of ‘community use'. We are encouraged by this latest commission - it clearly demonstrates best practice in this area. If more councils adopt a similar approach, the vision for high quality, cost effective community sport provision will become a reality."