THE contractor who built the Manchester City football academy has been given the job of transforming Great Sankey Leisure Centre.

LiveWire has confirmed BAM Construction will start work on phase one of the £16 million project next month.

The changes will not only revamp the Barrowhall Lane leisure centre but also provide health and cultural services.

The dementia friendly facility will include a fitness suite, swimming pools, sports hall, tennis courts, 3G pitch, GP surgeries, library, cafe and health and wellbeing facilities including a spa, with phase 1 set to open to the public in autumn next year.

Jan Souness, managing director at LiveWire, said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of BAM as the contractor to carry out the development of the existing Great Sankey Leisure Centre to transform it into a modern integrated facility for the whole community.

"BAM have a wealth of experience in delivering large construction projects and LiveWire are looking forward to working with them to ensure the build meets the needs of the ageing popular in the area.”

The building designs have been made dementia friendly because of concerns over an age 'time bomb' in that part of town.

BAM’s national charity partner is the Alzheimer’s Society Ian Fleming, construction director at BAM, said: “It’s very important to us to deliver this project successfully for the whole community, and not just to build a fantastic facility but to make the opportunity of the build itself into a positive experience for them.

"We’re really looking forward to engaging people and creating something that will truly enhance the lives of everybody who lives here.”

BAM is also behind The National Graphene Institute and the UTC@MediaCityUK, and are on site building No 1 Spinningfields in Manchester, The Materials Innovation Factory for the University of Liverpool and ongoing works at Aintree Hospital.

To find out more information about the development visit greatsankeyneighbourhoodhub.co.uk