Everyone Active has entered into a joint venture partnership with Sunderland City Council (SCC) ahead of an innovative deal that will see the leisure operator manage nine leisure centres in the region.

The arrangement will commence on 1 June and will see the formation of a Joint Venture Company (JVCo) comprising Sunderland City Council and Everyone Active representatives – with each organisation owning a 50 per cent stake.

“We are looking forward to working with SCC to develop existing facilities, create exciting new leisure spaces and ensure important participation, health and environmental targets are not only met but exceeded,” said Everyone Active MD David Bibby.

”The partnership will strengthen our presence in the north of England and we hope to continue expanding into this region further in 2015 and beyond.”

The JVCo will develop the leisure venues with plans for £4.2m worth of improvements across eight of the sites, with Everyone Active due to contribute an undisclosed amount.

Meanwhile, the ninth site to be operated by Everyone Active will be the new £11.3m Washington Leisure Centre, which is due to open in early summer 2015. Watson Batty Architects have designed the facility, which is set to feature group exercise and indoor cycling studios, six outdoor 3G pitches, four court sports hall, a trampoline hall, plus a 25m (82ft) pool and teaching pool.

An Everyone Active spokesperson told Health Club Management that Washington Leisure Centre’s 111 station fitness suite will feature equipment from Technogym, which is SCC’s main fitness supplier.