The specialist operator has been chosen to design, build, run and maintain the town centre complex, due to open in summer 2014.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure services Councillor Linda Horton said: “Reaching financial close and signing the contact in two and half months is a record for the industry and credit to all the hard work by both teams.

“This is a major step towards the centre being built and we look forward to working with them over the coming years.”

Over the past six years, DC Leisure has built 11 leisure facilities worth £110m across the country. It currently manages over 100 leisure facilities on behalf of local councils.

DC Leisure spokesman Peter Kirkham said: “DC Leisure are looking forward to working in partnership with Sandwell Council to deliver an exciting and excellent new leisure centre in West Bromwich.”

The planned site for the leisure complex is on the corner of Moor Street and Barton Street.

It will have a 25m pool with a learner pool, a sauna and steam room, a four-court sports hall, a 100-station fitness suite, two dance studios / activity rooms, an indoor children’s adventure play centre and a café.

A planning application has been submitted and a decision is expected later this year, with building work expected to start early next year.

DC Leisure is also advancing plans for a smaller project called the Cotlandswick Leisure Centre in St Albans. ISG Jackson has been named as the the builder and will start work in March.