North Country Leisure (NCL) and Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) are to “fully merge” their operations later this year and phase out the NCL brand entirely.

NCL, a leisure trust which operates centres in the North East of England, will become part of GLL, the UK’s largest leisure charitable social enterprise.

The two have worked closely together since January 2015, when NCL agreed to become a subsidiary of GLL.

NCL continued, however, to operate its 12 centres under its own brand and has since added four more facilities to its portfolio of managed sites.

The latest move will see the NCL brand gradually phased out and replaced with GLL’s “Better” branding.

The 16 NCL-managed centres – which it operates on behalf of local councils in Eden, South Lakeland, Copeland and Newcastle – will merge with those already managed by GLL in Carlisle, Allerdale, Manchester and York to join GLL’s North Region.

The merger will increase the number of sites operated under the GLL “Better” brand to more than 250.

According to Mark Sesnan, managing director of GLL, the merger will allow for future growth, facility improvements and new activity programmes across the north.

“Our merger with NCL and partnership with Newcastle City Council further expands and strengthens our regional network so more people can get active across our centres,” Sesnan said.

“Our social enterprise model means we don’t take a profit but can instead concentrate on re-investing in improved facilities and equipment and in grassroots community sports development.”

He added that the move will also see new products being introduced to sites formerly operated by NCL from GLL’s portfolio – such as an Extreme Trampoline Park being introduced in Newcastle, following the success of similar parks already in operation in Swindon and Barking.

Over the next six months the GLL’s “Better” brand and website will also be phased in across current NCL centres, along with a new look leisure card.

NCL chair Chris Roberts said: “I believe this merger will ensure a good future for leisure services in the contract areas in which NCL currently operates.

“It will ensure long term investment in the facilities and staff and a continued high quality of service for the public.

It also enshrines the principle that as a charity, of local governance we continue to make best use of any surplus income, for the benefit of our users.”

Existing centre based staff will continue to deliver the services on the ground.GLL’s North Region is headed up by regional director Andy King.