CO6081: Poplar Bath Leisure Centre - Rooftop Gaming Pitch

London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking to tender for works to be delivered at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre,

170 E India Dock Road, London E14 OED.

The Sports and Physical Activity Section have identified the requirement for Poplar baths rooftop 5 aside 3G pitch in Tower Hamlets.

The primary purpose of this project is to restore the existing roof-top pitch at Poplar baths. The current pitch has been rendered unusable for an extended period due to health and safety concerns, making it unfit for its intended purpose. The initiative aims to return the dilapidated facility back into a state-of-the-art football pitch, ensuring a safe and conducive environment for various sporting activities.

The revitalisation of the roof-top pitch aligns with the commitment to promote a healthy and active community lifestyle while addressing the critical need for a modern and secure sports infrastructure. This project will not only reinstate the pitch's functionality but also elevate the overall quality and safety standards of the sports centre, contributing significantly to the well-being of the community at large.

Poplar Baths has been a hub for community engagement and recreational activities since being opened in 2016. The existing rooftop pitch, once a vibrant space for residents, has been forced to close. Despite its previous popularity among the local community, health and safety concerns have led to the closure of the pitch, leaving a void in both physical activity opportunities and the social fabric of the area.

The pitch became a backdrop for creating social videos and television programs that highlighted the talents and enthusiasm of the local community members. This not only brought a unique identity to the sports centre but also contributed to the positive portrayal of the community in various media outlets.

In 2022 the facility operator (GLL) identified issues with the substructure of the pitch, forcing them to close the facility on health and safety grounds. Further investigations by the council Asset Management team confirmed the issue to be due to an inappropriate construction method for such a high use area. It is therefore proposed that the facility is reinstated and progressed by the council.

The Key objectives are to:

• Improve the facility reliability and reduced council risk through replacement of the old unsafe rooftop pitch. The project will address underlying construction issues that have led to the deterioration and compromised safety of the current facility.
• Ensuring the facilities are fit for purpose and contribute to the success of the new insourced leisure service from May 2024.
• Improved financial viability as the pitch has been out of commission since February 2022.