Morgan Sindall Construction’s London business has officially handed over the state-of-the-art Woolwich Waves Leisure Centre to the Royal Borough of Greenwich, marking the completion of one of the UK’s largest urban leisure facilities.
The £80 million project, which was procured via the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), is located at the heart of Woolwich town centre and plays a key role in the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s ambitious regeneration programme.
Morgan Sindall collaborated closely with the Council to design and develop the three-storey facility, creating an inclusive space that encourages physical activity for all, including people with disabilities and those living with dementia.
Given the limited space available on site, Morgan Sindall implemented an innovative stacked design, positioning the sports hall, gym, and cardio suites on the upper levels. The tier one contractor applied its Intelligent Solutions approach throughout the project, delivering a world-class 12,800 m² facility featuring advanced fit-out elements, including anti-vibration steelwork to optimise performance and user experience across the different leisure and sport activity spaces.
The completed development has delivered first class sports facilities to the Woolwich community, including four state-of-the-art swimming pools, large splash play area, including sensory experience, a luxury spa, a six-court sports hall, an in-door five-a-side football pitch, a two-level gymnasium, dance and spinning studios, and two squash courts. By establishing these resources within the community, the leisure centre is supporting families, young people, and adults to live active, healthy lifestyles.
The centre also features flexible and accessible community spaces, along with a kitchen, café, creche, party rooms, and a soft play area, as well as two studios that are linked to the neighbouring Tramshed theatre and community arts hub.
The leisure centre’s rooftop hosts a planted green roof alongside an advanced Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) system. one of largest ASHP arrays ever commissioned in the UK. The ASHP powers the building’s basement energy centre, delivering sustainable heating not only to the Leisure Centre itself but also to the neighbouring Tramshed venue. Looking ahead, the ASHP will extend its benefits to more than 500 new apartments currently under construction, further cementing the site’s role as a hub for green, community-focused energy innovation.
The building is on track to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating, making it only the second leisure centre in the UK to meet this standard for sustainable construction.
In line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to delivering social value to the communities in which it operates, the team utilised a local supply chain and created 31 new jobs to make a positive impact. The team also created a Knowledge Quad in the heart of the site to create a vital link between industry and education. Using the Knowledge Quad, the project team delivered two rounds of Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card training, where 20 individuals gained a CSCS card, including 10 Greenwich residents.
The project team also delivered a 14-week accredited construction study programme supporting 16 to 18-year-old young people who are no longer in mainstream education, employment, or training. Held on-site at the Woolwich Leisure Centre, the programme offered valuable practical experience and education about the opportunities within the construction sector. As a result, Morgan Sindall has successfully placed 39 individuals on apprenticeship programs.
Morgan Sindall collaborated with FaulknerBrowns Architects, Buro Happold Engineers, Arup fire consultants, and Max Fordham acoustics consultants, with client side consultants, Hadron Consulting, Gleeds, Van Zyl & de Villiers & DB3 in the delivery of Woolwich Waves Leisure Centre.
Richard Dobson, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Construction in London, said: “It’s a huge achievement to deliver this complex development to the Royal Borough of Greenwich and we are excited to see the community already starting to enjoy these state-of-the-art facilities. Sustainability has been at the forefront throughout the design, construction, and ongoing operation of Woolwich Waves Leisure Centre.
“We’ve also thoroughly enjoyed getting involved with the community through our onsite Knowledge Quad and working with local suppliers and teams to bring this leisure centre to life.”
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “The start of 2026 saw the moment thousands of residents had been waiting for as they were able to experience for the first time the leisure centre they helped to name. It's not just an exemplar leisure centre any city would be proud to have which is aiming for the highest sustainability measures – it's also what's come with it such as the refurbishment of Tramshed Theatre, as well as what's to come in the form of much-needed future new homes, shops, places to eat and public spaces.
“Woolwich Waves is at forefront of improving the quality of life and health of our residents. As well as three pools, there’s a gym, five-a-side pitch, spa, squash courts and more. Plus plenty for families. Woolwich Waves is once again proof that we not only get things done in Greenwich, but we get things done to an incredibly high standard so that residents can enjoy them for generations to come.”
