It is understood BAM, Wates and Willmott Dixon are in the chase for the £30m project, which could now start construction before the end of August.

Funded by the local council, the leisure centre will be built on a playing field next to the existing Spelthorne Leisure Centre dating back to the 1960s.

The building will include rooftop 3G sports pitches, swimming pools, mini spa, sports hall, gym and café.

The client team includes project manager Gleeds, architect GT3 and Passivhaus designers Gale & Snowden with Van Zyl & de Villiers M&E engineers and Engunuitti structural engineers on the project. Faithful & Gould is cost manager for the 100,000 sq ft project.

It will rank as the UK’s second leisure centre built to Passivhaus certified standard after Exeter City Council’s St Sidwells Point project which Kier is due to complete in several weeks.