Alliance Leisure Appointed to Deliver Landmark £20.5 million Leisure Centre in Deal
We are delighted to announce that we have been appointed by Dover District Council to lead the end-to-end project delivery of a brand-new, multi-million-pound leisure centre in Deal.
Following planning approval, work is now gathering pace to replace the ageing Tides Leisure Centre, built in the 1980s, with a new facility designed around today’s lifestyles and tomorrow’s ambitions. Backed by a £20.5 million investment from Dover District Council, the new centre will deliver modern, energy-efficient facilities that inspire active living and bring the community together.
The development proposal features a six-lane swimming pool, toddler splash pad, fully equipped gym, two multi-use studios, a group cycling studio, an Innerva studio with power-assisted equipment and a bright café hub, ideal for relaxing and refuelling. Accessibility sits at the heart of the design, with a Changing Places facility and new pool platform lift ensuring the centre welcomes and caters for everyone.
The sports hall and tennis centre from the original building will be retained.
The new centre will also be built with energy efficiency at the forefront of the design, including air source heat pumps, roof-mounted solar panels and energy-saving LED lighting throughout.
Demolition of the existing Tides pool and reception area is already completed, with construction of the new facility due to begin later this year. The new centre is expected to be fully operational in summer 2027.
This project has been procured through the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, and we are supported by a team of sector specialists including Pellikaan Construction, GT3 Architects, Hadron Consulting, CGP, Engenuiti and Southern Green.
Steve Winter-Rose, Business Development Manager at Alliance Leisure, said:
By employing a delivery team of leisure specialists, we are ensuring that expertise, efficiency and creativity flow through the entire build.
Over the last 25 years, Alliance has worked with councils across the UK to deliver hundreds of leisure projects, from community pump tracks and 3G pitches to major new-build facilities. Every project benefits from the learnings of the past, helping us to deliver unique environments that are resilient, efficient and designed to meet the specific needs of the communities they serve.
Leisure centres are the heartbeat of any community. When Deal’s new centre opens in 2027, it will give local people a place to be proud of, a place that inspires movement, connection and wellbeing for generations to come.
Matt McCreith, Senior Architect at GT3, said:
We’re delighted to be working with Alliance Leisure on another key community project. Inspired by the much-loved existing centre, we’ve worked closely with stakeholders to carry forward its warmth and character, while creating a modern, welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.
We want the new building to be the cornerstone that ties the existing tennis centre and sports hall elements together; our clear circulation journey knits new and existing, with a strong focus on providing accessible facilities and flexible areas for fitness, social activity, and wellbeing. The new Deal Leisure Centre will provide a state of the art, broader offer to the community.
Our Engagement team have been working closely with the council to create and update a project microsite which can be found here
We look forward to sharing further updates as the project progresses.