Wragge & Co advises on £30 million leisure centre

Wragge & Co's PFI team has advised Bristol City Council in reaching financial close on a new £30 million leisure centre, part of a major redevelopment scheme in south Bristol.

The PFI contract involves a partnership between the council and consortium Bristol Active Limited. A wholly owned subsidiary of Parkwood Project Management, Bristol Active will be responsible for the design, build, finance and operation of the state-of-the-art centre at Hengrove Park.

PFI experts Simon Chappel, Elizabeth Williams, Steve Franklin and Ben Weston led a cross-firm team, supported by Wragge & Co's pensions, construction and antitrust specialists. Associate Victoria Perry also assisted on real estate issues. The team worked closely with project director Stuart Woods.

PFI associate Simon Chappel said: "Our first major instruction from Bristol City Council, this complex project involved coordinating the various service providers. It demanded an in-depth knowledge of using PFI contracts in the public sector, and a commercial approach drawing on the firm's strength in depth."

Stuart Woods added: "This significant project will be a massive boost to the quality of sports facilities in the south of the city. Demonstrating a complete understanding of PFI agreements, Wragge & Co provided timely, commercially-astute advice throughout. The team was a pleasure to work with."

Hengrove Park is the centrepiece of a regeneration programme to transform south Bristol. The site will also feature a £54 million community hospital, 11,000 sq ft skills academy and modern office space. When complete in 2012, the leisure centre's facilities will include a ten-lane, 50-metre swimming pool, a four-court sports hall, a 150-station fitness suite, aerobics studios and ancillary facilities. Financial backing for the project will be provided by National Australia Bank. Ashfords advised the bank and Bevan Brittan advised Bristol Active Limited.

Wragge & Co's dedicated PFI team advises local government and government departments, contractors, sponsors and funders on PFI, PPP and international projects. Working with the firm's experts in finance, construction, planning, IT and real estate, it delivers a bespoke service that anticipates clients' requirements and supports their commercial objectives.

Notable work includes advising the Ministry of Defence on its ground-breaking CVF Alliance Project. The first time an innovative alliance agreement has been used to deliver a long-term public sector project, it involves the building of the UK's next generation of aircraft carriers. It also advised the Community Lighting Partnership in reaching a financial close on the £30 million Blackpool Street Lighting and Traffic Signals PFI project. Another highlight is advising public services provider Amey plc on the £2.7 billion Birmingham Highways PFI project, the UK's largest Local Government Highway PFI.