A NEW leisure centre in North Worcestershire will save the public purse more than £390,000 a year, according to Wyre Forest District Council.

The announcement of the annual savings comes after the local authority and Places for People Leisure signed a 25-year contract for the company to design, build, operate and maintain the facilities, which will be located at the former British Sugar site in Kidderminster.

It is claimed savings will be achieved because the new centre is more sustainable and the contractor will be paying a management fee to run the facility.

The centre at Silverwoods will cost £11.9 million to build and a £2 million Sport England grant will contribute to this figure.

Councillor Marcus Hart, leader of Wyre Forest District Council, said: “The signing of the contract is a significant milestone in this exciting project.

“The council could not continue subsidising the district's leisure centres to such a level and they are getting more expensive to manage and run each year. "The leisure centre review in 2011 made it very clear that a new leisure centre is the most cost effective option.

“This project is going to save the council and taxpayers’ money and give the people of Wyre Forest first class leisure facilities. We are now looking forward to seeing the design.”

Places for People Leisure was awarded the contract following a competitive tender process.

Peter Kirkham, development director at the company, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to design and develop the new facilities for the residents of Wyre Forest.

“We will continue to work hard to get more people from the local community active and participating in sport.

“We are confident that when the new facility opens in 2016 it will exceed all expectations and provide a hub of sporting and leisure activity for all residents of the district.”

The leisure centre will have a sports hall, six lane 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, fitness suite, dance studios, climbing wall and small-sided outdoor football pitches.

For more details visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/leisurecentres