The Wigan Joint Services Centre project reached financial close on 25 June 2009.
The Joint Services Centre will be a comprehensive leisure, health and information complex. The new centre will be located on two sites adjacent to the Wigan Town Hall and will replace Wigan International Pool and Municipal Buildings. The first site will house the leisure and health facilities, while the second location will consist of a Healthy Living Centre and an Information & Learning Zone, including a swimming pool, adult learning provision and separate children’s and teenage libraries. Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council was successful in winning PFI funding of £67 million for the project, competing against several other councils within the UK.
The ACCESS consortium, comprising Hochtief and Morgan Sindall, was named preferred bidder in February 2008. Investec acted as financial advisor to the consortium, with Pinsent Masons providing legal advice. Financial advice for the Authority was provided by Deloitte. Senior debt financing of £51 million is being provided by Helaba and Nord LB.
Operis was engaged to provide financial model auditing services and a full tax and accounting review on behalf of the funders and sponsors.
