---
title: "Deed of Variation of Leisure Operating Contract"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06632c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06632c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06632c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06632c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVERING"
published: "2026-03-05"
---

# Deed of Variation of Leisure Operating Contract

Buyer: LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVERING  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06632c

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## Summary

In March 2026, the London Borough of Havering finalised a procurement process with Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM) to modify and extend the existing Contract dated 30 September 2016. This amendment involves appointing SLM as the borough's Agent for managing its leisure services across five core facilities, including Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre and Sapphire Ice & Leisure. The procurement, under the Recreational, Cultural and Sporting Services category, introduces a deed of variation slated for 1 April 2026. This contract will operate without prior publication due to the procurement being outside the typical directive's scope, allowing for a permitted modification of an existing arrangement under specific regulations. The initial contract is valued at £175,000,000 and remains active throughout its 20-year duration with possibilities for a 5-year extension, ensuring consistent leisure benefits for residents and a guaranteed minimum revenue for the borough.

The deed of variation represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in leisure management and associated services like facilities maintenance and sports operations. By adopting an agency model, the borough ensures continuity of quality leisure services, thereby requiring firms with established expertise in community-focused recreational operations. The partnership with a large-scale enterprise like SLM emphasises the borough's commitment to sustainability while fostering economic growth through VAT efficiencies and potential increases in service capacity. Enterprises capable of leveraging adaptive service models within regulated frameworks would thrive in such collaborative roles, providing value both to the borough's financial ecosystem and its residents' leisure experience.

## Notice

London Borough of Havering intends to enter into a deed of variation with Sports and Leisure Management Limited (SLM) in relation to the Leisure Operating Contract dated 30 September 2016 in order to appoint SLM as London Borough of Havering's agent in delivering the leisure services at the London Borough of Havering's core leisure centre facilities. The core leisure centre facilities include: * Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre * Noak Hill Sports Complex * Central Park Leisure Centre * Rainham Leisure Centre * Sapphire Ice & Leisure The date of the proposed modification is 1 April 2026.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

London Borough of Havering intends to enter into a deed of variation with Sports and Leisure Management Limited (SLM) in relation to the leisure management contract (Contract) dated 30 September 2016 in order to appoint SLM as the London Borough of Havering's agent in delivering the leisure services at the London Borough of Havering's core leisure centre facilities. The core leisure centre facilities include: * Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre * Noak Hill Sports Complex * Central Park Leisure Centre * Rainham Leisure Centre * Sapphire Ice & Leisure The date of the proposed modification is 1 April 2026.

### Procurement Information

The procurement is a permitted modification of an existing contract. Explanation: This voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT Notice) gives notice that the London Borough of Havering is entering into a deed of variation (Variation) to make certain changes summarised in this VEAT Notice. A procurement procedure is not necessary on the basis that the Deed of Variation of the Contract is permitted pursuant to Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Contract is for the operation and management of the London Borough of Havering's five leisure centres to ensure the London Borough of Havering can provide quality and affordable leisure services for the residents within the borough, maintain the facilities and provide a financial return to the borough to invest in core services. The Contract will be varied to adopt an agency model for the future operation and management of the five sports and leisure facilities. Under the current Contract, SLM acts as Principal in the supply of leisure facilities to the public. Under the new agency model in the Variation, SLM would make supplies to the public as an Agent of the London Borough of Havering so that it is the London Borough of Havering providing leisure services to the public through its Agent. This modification is being made in accordance with regulation 72(1)(e) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 on the basis that it is not substantial within the meaning of regulation 72(8). The proposed modification does not constitute a substantial modification and is permitted by regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 because: (a) the modification does not render the Contract materially different in character. The Variation concerns the same type, scope and nature of services which will be delivered at the same London Borough of Havering facilities to the London Borough of Havering's residents. The Contract was already for the operation of the London Borough of Havering's leisure facilities and the Variation makes contractual changes to establish an agency model so that SLM provides the London Borough of Havering's statutory leisure services to the public on the London Borough of Havering's behalf and other ancillary modifications. This generates VAT savings. (b) the modification does not introduce conditions which would have (i) allowed for the admission of other candidates, (ii) allowed for the acceptance of another tender, or (iii) attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure. Delivering the London Borough of Havering's statutory leisure services as agent rather than outsourced contractor will not affect the physical operation of the leisure centres. The change to an agency model for VAT purposes does not change the service requirement or the way in which those services are provided, and is unlikely to have changed the outcome of the procurement. (c) The modification does not change the economic balance in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the initial contract. The new agency model and associated VAT benefits does not impact on SLM's operating costs and management fee under the Contract, which remains reflective of market costs. The agency model will provide a greater return than previously anticipated. (d) the modification does not extend the scope of the contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019977-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Apr 2016 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £175,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVERING |
| Locality | ROMFORD |
| Post town | Romford |
| Postcode | RM1 3BB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI5 Outer London - East and North East |
| ITL 3 | TLI52 Barking & Dagenham and Havering |
| Local authority | Havering |
| Electoral ward | St Edward's |
| Westminster constituency | Romford |
| Delivery location | TLI52 Barking & Dagenham and Havering |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SPORTS AND LEISURE MANAGEMENT LTD (SLM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

### Codes

- 79993000 - Building and facilities management services
- 92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
- 92610000 - Sports facilities operation services

## Release History

- 5 Mar 2026 at 14:35 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019977-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.havering.gov.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06632c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06632c.json.