The new Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick will host the swimming and diving events for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Sandwell Council’s aim is to ensure local communities benefit from every stage of the project.

Plans were approved by planning committee in March and will be ratified at Full Council in April. The designs for the new leisure centre, at Londonderry Playing Fields, feature a 50m Olympic-sized competition swimming pool, a 25m diving pool and a studio pool along with 1,000 spectator seats.

Sandwell Council and Wates Construction, who will be building the new aquatics centre, are working hard to ensure local people and businesses benefit from every stage.

Community benefits clauses have been written into the council’s contract with Wates Construction around jobs, skills, local regeneration and business growth during the development, and health and physical activity for Sandwell residents.

With our mutual aim to nurture growth in local businesses, Think Sandwell is working with Wates Construction and the council’s delivery team for the aquatics centre to host a ‘meet the buyer’ event on Tuesday 30 April.

At the morning event, taking place at the Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury, you will meet the team responsible for delivering the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. Through presentations from Wates and Sandwell Council, you will hear first-hand about the contracts being generated by the build, which will include groundworks, landscaping, mechanical and electrical work, and internal finishing. Afterwards there will be the chance to network with decision makers, as well as likeminded local businesspeople.

You can read more and sign up at Eventbrite.