Funding and partners

The overall project is valued at £46.5 million, which includes professional fees, design and construction costs. Most of this is being funded through capital receipts (money raised through the sale of Council assets) and prudential borrowing.

Plymouth University is contributing £2.5 million and Sport England is supporting the scheme with a grant of £1.99 million through its Sustainable Facilities Fund.

England Netball is also investing £200,000 and the Amateur Swimming Association has awarded £40,000 to support water polo at the centre.

Agreements have also been signed with English Squash and Racketball and the English Table Tennis Association to promote and develop these sports in the city.

The main contractor for the scheme was Balfour Beatty, one of the world’s largest construction companies. Balfour Beatty has been involved in a number of sports and leisure projects boasting Olympic standard facilities, including the London Aquatic Centre, Sunderland Aquatic and Wellness Centre and the National Swimming Academy in Stirling.

Balfour Beatty’s contract also includes the demolition of the Mayflower Centre and Central Park leisure pools, which is expected to begin in May or June 2012.