Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Stockport Council for the construction phase of its new community hub in Marple, UK.  

The council submitted a planning application last week for the proposed Marple Community Hub development, supported by a £20m ($25.21m) grant from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

The project, procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework, aims to create a two-storey community hub in Marple Memorial Park. 

The facility will feature a five-lane swimming pool, a library with a café on the ground floor, shared community spaces, a fitness suite, and the relocated Marple clinic.  

This development comes after an extensive consultation process to finalise the designs. 

It will result in the demolition of the existing police station, library, and health clinic to make room for the new complex.  

The project's contractors have already undertaken several site surveys ahead of the expected planning submission. 

Dixon North managing director Anthony Dillon said: “At Marple Community and Leisure Hub, we are committed to delivering a social return on investment of £3.78m, including 132 weeks of apprenticeship training and 40 weeks of work placements.  

“We look forward to also running two bespoke ‘Building Lives Academy’ skills programmes for students with special educational needs and care leavers.” 

The new hub will see police services moved to Hollins House.  

Additionally, the project will revive the village's swimming facilities, replacing the pool that closed in 2018.  

The Marple Community Hub is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with a final decision on the development set for June 2024.

The project follows the opening of Stockport’s Viaduct Park and Interchange, another Dixon undertaking for Transport for Greater Manchester last week. 

This month, Dixon also secured a contract to construct the £18m Pendle Police Station for Lancashire Constabulary.