GLL expands property portfolio by acquiring Dagenham's Sporthouse

One of the UK's largest operators of public leisure centres, GLL, has expanded

its wholly-owned portfolio of sports facilities with the acquisition of Sporthouse in Dagenham, London.

Sporthouse was opened by five times Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave ahead of the London Olympic Games in April 2012.

It has the country's biggest multi-use sports hall at 5,000sq m, a large health club and two outdoor basketball courts. It also has the capacity to hold 6,000 spectators.

The centre was an official Games training venue during London 2012 and hosted both Olympic and Paralympic athletes in the run up to the Games.

The privately-owned centre, however, ran into financial difficulties and was placed in administration in 2013 - despite a deal with sports promoter Matchroom Sport which was set to televise boxing, darts and world championship snooker from the venue in Mayesbrook Park.

Following the acquisition, GLL will rename the centre as Barking Sporthouse and Gym and invest an initial £100,000 in upgrading the facility.

Sporthouse will join Charlton Lido and Lifestyle Club in South London and a chain of low-cost Better Gyms in GLL's wholly-owned property portfolio.

The company also manages more than 140 facilities on behalf of 30 local authorities and employs around 6,000 staff.

GLL Managing Director, Mark Sesnan, "We're very excited about the acquisition of Sporthouse which is a top sports venue and really puts the borough on the map.

"With our experience running two key former Olympic venues in legacy mode? the London Aquatics Centre and the Copper Box Arena - we are determined to offer local people the chance to experience world class sporting facilities on their doorstep."