Helensburgh’s new waterfront leisure centre remains on schedule, though commercial issues could crop up, a senior councillor has said.
With an estimated cost of £22.3m, the facility is currently scheduled to open in August 2022, with work having progressed on its site behind the town’s current swimming pool for a year.
The pool was originally scheduled to open in April 2020 and cost £17m.
An update on the project is to go before Argyll and Bute Council, with the authority’s project manager confirming that flood defences on the site are now complete.
Cllr Gary Mulvaney also praised Heron Bros Ltd for their ‘huge team effort’ during their first 12 months on the site.
The report says the project remains ‘on programme’ despite the challenges of the first year of construction.
However, Cllr Mulvaney also said that issues of a commercial nature’ were likely to emerge due to the scale of the project.
The depute council leader’s report will go before the full council on Thursday.
Cllr Mulvaney said: “With ongoing Covid restrictions, it has taken a huge team effort from the council, Heron Bros Ltd and our internal and external design consultants to get us to this important milestone.
“The progress achieved in the face of considerable challenge is a testament to the power of partnership and professionalism.
“It is all the more impressive given all the back office staff behind the Waterfront Development are working remotely to deliver the project.
“Heron Bros has continued to make significant progress against their contract programme. The building structure is complete along with all the glazing installed. The flood defence walls and placement of rock armour around the site is complete, along with the installation of flood gates to the recently completed eastern slipway. The car park and public realm works are well underway.”
He added: “The main pool tank is currently being fully filled with water, as part of the pre-tiling testing. Mechanical and electrical Installations are progressing at a pace to the whole of the building including to ground floor changing village, reception area, plantroom, gym, fitness studios, sauna, steam room etc. Lomond stone walling to the bin store, electric sub-station and retaining walls are complete.
“Whilst the project has made significant progress to date and is being delivered in the midst of a global pandemic, currently it remains on programme and within budget.
“However, the project management team recognise that issues of a commercial nature will likely emerge given the size and scale of this complex major capital project, and we continue to work closely with all parties to mitigate and minimise the potential impact of these upon the delivery of the works.”
The project has also received an excellent rating in a recent audit conducted by the Considerate Constructors Scheme for its extensive Covid-19 measures in the form of a biometric scanner.
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