Outsourcing company Serco has secured the contract to run Birmingham City Council’s leisure centres and swimming pools for the next 15 years.

The company will also design and build four new swimming pools at Erdington, Stechford Cascades, Icknield Port Loop, in Edgbaston, and Northfield.

It will also run the council’s Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Beeches Pool in Great Barr, Billesley Tennis Centre, Fox Hollies Leisure Centre and Cocks Moor Woods Leisure Centres.

The council has, along with Sport England, put up the money for the rebuilding of the pools, but the centres will now be run by Serco at no cost to the authority.

Council assistant director for sport Steve Hollingworth, said: “Serco submitted quality and cost-effective tenders to operate and manage nine leisure centres and design and build four brand new modern pools. Despite the considerable budgetary restraints that we face, Serco’s appointment will help us ensure that we can continue to support and encourage people to be active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.”

The award follows the approval over a year ago of the future leisure provision strategy which outlined the transformation of leisure provision across the city.

The contracts were initially divided into two separate lots, one for the north and east of the city, the other for the south and west – but city bosses decided that Serco should win both.

Each company submitted tenders that were assessed in terms of construction, service delivery, social value and price. The remaining council leisure centres and pools will be run separately, either by other contractors or, in the case of Castle Vale, the local community. Some inner-city pools will receive NHS support and be rebranded as Well Being Centres. Sparkhill and Shard End pools are also being rebuilt under different contracts.