Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre, Sheffield

A new era for the Springs site

Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Sheffield City Council to build the £40m Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre. It replaces the city’s Springs Leisure Centre on East Bank Road, Arbourthorne. Our work is the main element of a £51m redevelopment and a cornerstone of the council’s Leisure Investment Programme to modernise Sheffield’s sport and leisure estate.

The existing centre has reached the end of its functional life. Its replacement will serve the Manor, Arbourthorne and Richmond communities, where local councillors have highlighted a ten-year life expectancy gap with more affluent parts of the city. The new centre brings leisure, health and community services together under one roof in a modern, accessible building for people of all ages and abilities.

The centre will carry the name of Uriah Rennie, the first Black referee in Premier League history, who died in 2025. He was President of Hallam FC and of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA, and Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University. In his home city he was a tireless champion of fairness and opportunity. The site has particular meaning: it stands on the grounds of the school he and his siblings attended. Public art shaped through community workshops will celebrate his legacy inside and out.

What we are delivering

The 6,933m² steel-framed centre was designed by Watson Batty Architects and rises over three storeys. It will provide:

• A six-lane, 25m main pool and a teaching pool
• A five-court sports hall and a four-rink indoor bowls hall
• Health and fitness gyms, group fitness studios, and a wellbeing spa and health suite
• Soft play, plus an accessible café and social space overlooking the pool
• Community health rooms and co-location space supporting social prescribing
• Landscaped grounds with public art, more parking, accessible spaces and cycle parking

Keeping the community active while we build

We are delivering the scheme in two phases. First, we will build the new centre on a two-acre site next to the existing one, with associated landscaping and access works. Local people keep their pool, gym and sports hall throughout construction. Once the new centre opens, we will demolish the old building and complete the external works. Building next to a busy public facility used every day by families, schools and clubs calls for careful logistics and safe segregation. It also means working closely with the council and the operator, Everyone Active.

Sustainability

The centre is contracted to achieve BREEAM Excellent. Air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels wherever possible and pool water microfiltration will reduce energy and water use. These are priorities in any building with pools.

Social value

Local people are at the heart of the project. We will create local jobs, apprenticeships and work placements, with a focus on young people and those who face barriers to employment. We will work with Sheffield schools, colleges and universities to inspire the next generation. Together with our supply chain, we will support local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

Building on our leisure expertise

The Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre adds to our strong track record in public leisure. We recently handed over the £15m Eston Pool and the £33.9m Leighton Linslade Leisure Centre in Bedfordshire. We are currently on site at Bransbury Park Leisure Centre in Portsmouth and the £43m Cascades Leisure Centre in Gravesend. In Yorkshire, our leisure work includes Pontefract’s Five Towns Leisure and Wellbeing Hub, Ripon and Scarborough. Procurement through the SCAPE Construction Framework gave the council early contractor involvement through a 63-week pre-construction phase, giving cost and programme certainty before we start on site.

What people are saying:

“We’re delighted to be working with Sheffield City Council to bring the new Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre to life. This landmark facility will provide first-class health, wellbeing and leisure opportunities for local people, serving the community for many years to come. Drawing on our extensive experience in the leisure sector, we will deliver a high-quality, sustainable facility while creating lasting social value through local employment, training and community engagement opportunities. Our aim is to leave a legacy that extends far beyond the physical building.”

Chris Yates, Yorkshire Director, Willmott Dixon

“We want people across the city to have access to high-quality, welcoming and accessible facilities that make it easier to be active, support healthier lives and provide something for people of all ages. The new Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre is a major part of that ambition. It is great to have Willmott Dixon on board to help us bring those plans to life and deliver a centre that will serve the community for many years to come.”

Cllr Brian Holmshaw, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee, Sheffield City Council

“It is also fitting that the centre will carry the name of Uriah Rennie, celebrating someone who broke down barriers in sport and made such an important contribution to Sheffield and our communities.”

Cllr Marieanne Elliot, Deputy Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee, Sheffield City Council

“From creating employment and skills development opportunities during the construction stage, to providing a place for local people to enjoy affordable sport and leisure facilities, this project will deliver lasting benefits for the local area.”

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive, SCAPE