Leisure Services Operating Contract - Pre Market Engagement (questionnaire & online session)

We are delighted to present this prospectus, inviting you to consider partnering with us in shaping a healthier and more active future for our residents.
It is now necessary to the Council to procure an Operating Partner to operate the Council owned Facilities within the former Copeland and Allerdale Borough Council areas with effect from the 1st of April 2026.
The contract will be procured in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024. It is intended that the procurement and resultant contract will be procured in such a way to allow flexibility over the term of the contract, for instance building in the possibility to include the Carlisle contract when it ends in December 2032.The Facilities in scope include:-
Former Allerdale Area – contract ends 31st March 2026
• Workington Leisure Centre;
• Cockermouth Leisure Centre;
• Keswick Leisure Centre (only the gym is open / pool is closed); and
• The Wave, Maryport.
Former Copeland Area – contract ends 31st March 2026
• Whitehaven Leisure Centre;
• Copeland Pool and fitness centre; and
• Cleator Moor Activity Centre.
In addition to the above facilities, the Council is due to commence construction of a new Facility in Millom in 2025. This facility will also form part of the Facilities that will be included in the scope of the Leisure Operating Contract. The Facilities highlighted above are situated in the south of Cumberland as illustrated in the Map below
For clarity, the Council owned Facilities operated by Better Leisure within the Carlisle leisure contract are not in scope from the commencement in April 2026 but could be become integrated at the end of the current contract period, include:-
Former Carlisle Area - contract ends 6th December 2032
• The Sands Centre;
• The Sheepmount; and
• Bitts Park Tennis Courts.
Please Note

The Council will be carrying out an online session on Monday 10th March at 10am to further outline the opportunity. This will be available for all prospective partners. Please confirm email addresses via the ‘messaging area’ on The Chest if you would like to secure a space, a maximum of 2 from each organisation. These must be received before Friday 7th March at 5pm

The Council is requesting that potential partners respond to this Soft Market Testing (see pages 14-22 of this document). Please complete and return your responses by 5pm Friday 14th March through the messaging area of The Chest (www.the-chest.org.uk)