Wyre Council has awarded Parkwood Leisure a new 15-year leisure management contract for its portfolio of 5 leisure facilities which will begin on 1 April 2026.

SLC were commissioned in May 2024 to help support the process. The Council had recently launched its new ‘Wyre Moving More’ Strategy which established a fresh vision and approach to the future delivery of sport, leisure and physical activity services by the Council and its stakeholder partners.  The new contract has been designed to act as a key delivery vehicle for the new strategy and the operator will play a critical role in contributing to the identified outcomes.

SLC worked with the Council’s Leisure Procurement Project Board to develop a robust procurement strategy. This set out the approach to the procurement and established a suitable balance between meeting the Council’s requirements whilst ensuring the opportunity was attractive to the market. An investment fund for operators was included to develop various investment options. These were tested throughout the procurement process and assessed in relation to their projected return on investment and overall business case to better meet needs and improve service performance.

The new contract has been very successful for the Council. Backed by c.£3.7m of capital investment to develop the facilities, the new contract will improve the management fee by c.£8.3m over the 15 years through a combination of higher income, reduced operational costs and efficiencies in service delivery. The contract also promises to deliver a number of additional benefits including:

  • A new Active Wellbeing Programme designed to help inactive and less active residents get moving
  • A new family indoor activity centre at Thornton Leisure Centre and major refurbishments at various sites
  • Gym and sports hall upgrades
  • £476,000 investment in energy-saving measures such as solar panels, water efficiency improvements and lighting upgrades

The Council are very pleased with the outcome as shown by this testimonial from Carol Southern, Leisure, Healthy Lifestyles & Communities Manager

“Working with SLC has been a really positive experience for us at Wyre Council.  Their expertise and guidance have been invaluable throughout the leisure procurement process. They provided clear, practical advice at every stage, helping us to develop a robust procurement strategy and navigate a complex tender process with confidence.  The outcome speaks for itself – a new contract that delivers financial savings, major facility improvements and enhanced opportunities for our residents to be more active. We’re delighted with the results and would not hesitate recommending SLC to any organisation seeking specialist support in this area. Thank you!”

If you would like further information on how SLC can support your local authority with its leisure and active wellbeing procurement, please contact us at info@slc.uk.com or call us on 01444 459927