Green light for 2022 Commonwealth Games aquatic centre

The £60M Sandwell Aquatics Centre, which will host events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has been given the final go-ahead by local councillors.

The new centre, to be built on Londonderry Playing Fields in Smethwick, will be built by Wates Construction and run by Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT).

The centre is expected to be completed by 2021 and will host the swimming and diving for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A 2016 review of Sandwell’s leisure facilities recognised the poor state of swimming centres in the Smethwick area, identifying the need for a new leisure centre.

The council examined a number of potential sites for the centre, taking into consideration factors including location, size, legal constraints and the ability for the scheme to be completed on time.

This exercise saw Londonderry Playing Fields identified as the only suitable site for the leisure centre.

Plans include a 50m Olympic-sized competition swimming pool, a 25m diving pool and a studio pool. The centre will have 1,000 permanent spectator seats with additional seating to be added on a temporary basis for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The centre will also boast a dry-dive facility, 108-station gym, 25-station ladies-only gym, three activity studios, eight-court sports hall, indoor cycling studio, sauna/steam room and café.