Birmingham welcomes the Commonwealth Games, with a little help from BWB

26 July 2022

As the countdown begins for the Commonwealth Games to land in Birmingham, BWB colleagues have been looking back on the recent years working for Sport England and alongside the Local Authorities and their Professional Advisors providing Assurance Services to support the forthcoming games. To ensure the best possible experience for both spectators, the local community, and the competitors, the Region has invested significantly in a huge amount of new and upgraded Facilities and Infrastructure, including the remodelled Alexander Stadium and the brand-new Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

BWB has been involved in several of the Games Projects since early 2018 that will take centre stage when the games begin on 28 July, including:

• The new £85m Sandwell Aquatics Centre

• The £84m remodelled Alexander Stadium

• The new £1.2m Mountain Bike Competition Venue at Cannock Chase

BWB’s services for Sport England- a Games Funder- has included cost advice, procurement advice, being a key member of the evaluation panels for Project Management, Architecture and Principal Contractor appointments and providing ongoing Check & Challenge, Advice, Technical Assurance and Project Monitoring.

BWB was also appointed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to Assure, Check & Challenge and monitor monthly expenditure on the Stadium and Aquatic Centre Projects.

All of the projects were delivered on Time and on Budget, a significant achievement given that the Projects were faced with the challenges caused by the Pandemic.

Social Value and a long-lasting Legacy have been key drivers for the Games Projects, stimulating Regional Regeneration, and providing modern, state of the art facilities that will serve the Local Communities long after the Games have gone.

The Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Games Mode is the competition venue for the water sports events, providing a FINA Standard 50m Pool, Dive Tower and Dive Tank, 5000 spectator seats, a separate 50m warm up pool for competitors and all event support facilities such as changing, timing, officials, press etc. 

At the end of the Games, the Construction Project will be completed to convert the Games Facility to Legacy Mode by removing 4000 spectator seats, the warm up pool and all event support facilities and adding:

• Two four court sports halls

• 20m studio pool

• Wet changing village

• Dry diving facility

• 108 station gym

• 25 station women’s only gym

• Indoor cycling studio

• Three dance activity studios

• Sauna and steam facility

• Café and reception

• Full size natural turf football pitch and changing facility

• 326 car parking spaces  and extensive landscaping

The finished Sandwell Aquatic Centre will provide the local community, local sports clubs and the residents of Sandwell with a magnificent modern facility fit for the 21st Century.  

‘It’s great to see Birmingham take centre stage for such a massive event as the Commonwealth Games’ says BWB Regional Director Stuart Nelmes. ‘This huge investment in the city will not only ensure fantastic events- but will benefit the wider Birmingham community for years to come and provides a focal point for stimulating regional regeneration. We’re proud to have played a part in such a legacy here at BWB.’

Let the games begin!

Key Contacts

Name: Stuart Nelmes
Job Title: Regional Director

E: Stuart.Nelmes@bwbconsulting.com

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