The new Water Polo Arena, which is to stage men's and women's water polo events during the London 2012 Games, has become one of the last Olympic Park venues to be completed. Built in just 13 months, the 5,000-seat venue's design incorporates a silver-coloured wrap and an inflatable roof. After the Games, it will be dismantled and its elements reused across the UK. The Water Polo Arena is sited to

Olympic swimmer Chris Cook has helped mark the official start of construction work on a new £31m leisure, business support and community facility in the heart of Redcar. Willmott Dixon has been appointed to build the new complex, which has been designed by leisure specialists S&P Architects in collaboration with Plus Three Architecture. A fitness suite and a junior gym will be among the facilities at the development, along with

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave has helped mark the official opening of a major new £8.1m sports complex in east London's Mayesbrook Park. Built by Morgan Sindall and designed by LRK Associates, SportHouse comprises a 5,000sq m (53,820sq ft) sports hall – one of the UK's largest – fitted with Taraflex flooring from Gerflor. Other facilities include a 300-station fitness area equipped by Cybex; two full-size basketball courts;

Crusaders rugby team has played its first game in Christchurch, New Zealand, for nearly two years after its new home, the temporary AMI Stadium, opened its doors in Addington. Insurance group AMI, which has a naming rights sponsorship deal for the club's earthquake-damaged home elsewhere in the city, recently signed a similar agreement for the new venue. Designed by Populous, the 18,000-seat stadium comprises two partially-covered stands and will be

Swindon Borough Council (SBC) and Moirai Capital Investments have moved forward with plans for the development of the Wiltshire town's new £65m regional leisure hub. Leases have now been agreed for the project, which will see Oasis Leisure Centre transferred to a private operator on 1 June before it undergoes an extensive refurbishment. An indoor ski slope, an indoor arena and a waterpark will also form part of the planned

Southwark Council and Lend Lease have unveiled plans for the redevelopment of south London's Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre site in the latest round of public consultation. John McAslan and Partners has been appointed to work in conjunction with leisure design specialists S&P Architects on proposals for a new leisure centre that is to form part of the scheme. For the first time in more than a decade, the site

Derby City Council (DCC) has approved planning permission for the development of a new multi-million pound sports and entertainment arena near the city's Pride Park Stadium. The 14,500sq m (156,077sq ft) venue has been designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects and will incorporate a 250m cycling track and a 1.5km (0.9-mile) outdoor closed cycle trail. It is hoped work will now be able to commence in June, with a sports infield accommodating

Fresh plans for Bristol's County Ground have been announced by Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (GCCC), two months after its previous vision for the venue was rejected. The club said the Stride Treglown Tektus-designed redevelopment project will secure its future in the city, while also providing facilities designed to support growth plans for the sport in the region. GCCC's latest plans also aim to establish a venue capable of supporting international

Councillors have resolved to move forward with plans for the first phase of a major £24.5m redevelopment of the A-listed Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in Glasgow. Members of Glasgow City Council (GCC) have approved a report into the historic venue's future, with a design team now to be appointed in order to draw up outline proposals. Kelvin Hall had housed the Museum of Transport before it moved to the

Plymouth's new £46.5m Life Centre, which has been created to provide a regional centre of sporting excellence, has been officially opened by the local authority today (22 March). The Archial-designed complex is to be managed by Everyone Active on behalf of Plymouth City Council (PCC) and will open fully to the public on Saturday (24 March). According to local GPs and leading health experts, the Life Centre will provide "significant"

Two design teams have been appointed to project manage the construction of a tennis centre and clubhouses for bowls and golf at Batchwood Golf and Tennis Centre, Hertfordshire. St Albans City and District Council has confirmed Saunders Boston will be leading the pre-contract and build phases of the bowls and golf facilities, which are due to open later this year. Meanwhile, Drivers Jonas Deloitte has been appointed to oversee the

European Golf Design (EGD) has announced that preliminary course design work is now underway at the host of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Le Golf National in Paris, France. The company will work with the European Tour and the French Golf Federation in order to prepare the Albatross Course and is currently assessing masterplans for the venue. EGD was behind the design of the Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor

Hertfordshire-based construction group Willmott Dixon has been appointed to build a new £31m leisure, business support and community facility in Redcar, north east England. The scheme - designed by Plus3 Architects and S&P Architects - was given final approval by planning officials at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) last September. A six-lane, 25m swimming pool, a training pool and a learner pool will form part of the new complex,

S&P Architects have submitted a planning application to Ealing Council for the proposed multi-million pound redevelopment and regeneration of London's Acton Town Hall. The design firm, which is also behind the design of The Pods in Scunthorpe and St Albans' Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, is working with the local authority to deliver its latest project. Once complete, the new-look Acton Town Hall will house leisure facilities such as an eight-lane,

FC United of Manchester (FCUM) has moved closer to its planned new stadium in Moston after the club successfully raised more than £1.6m through a community share issue. In addition to the new Taylor Young -designed stadium, the £4.6m project will also feature the provision of community facilities such as a full-size artificial pitch and junior grass pitches. Manchester City Council has approved planning permission for the scheme and reaching

Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool, which will host the diving competition during the 2014 Commonwealth Games, has officially reopened following an £37m refurbishment. Leisure specialists S&P Architects are behind the design of the new-look complex, with the scheme involving the stripping back of the A-listed building's shell, before it was completely rebuilt. Graham Construction carried out the work on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, with facilities including a 50m,

The Pods, a £21m leisure facility opened last summer in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, has been shortlisted for the public building of the year accolade at this year's Sustain Awards. Andrew Wright Associates were behind the concept design of the complex, which was taken forward by S&P Architects and comprised five timber and glazed geodesic dome structures. Facilities at The Pods include an 85-station, split-level fitness suite; an eight-lane swimming pool and

The relaunch of a 20m swimming pool and sports hall at Golden Lane Sport and Fitness in the City of London has marked the completion of an extensive £2.65m refurbishment. Cartwright Pickard Architects were behind the redesign of the Grade II-listed facility, which first opened in the 1960s and was originally designed by Chamberlain, Powell and Bon – the architects behind the Barbican complex. The 20m, four-lane swimming pool and

Scott Tallon Walker Architects have been selected to work on the redevelopment of Cork's Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium by the Cork County Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Board. The group is to provide architectural services on the scheme, having worked with Populous on the multi-million euro overhaul of Dublin's Lansdowne Road - now the Aviva Stadium. Malachy Walsh and Partners will project manage the Páirc Uí Chaoimh scheme, which will establish

Plans for Bristol Rovers Football Club's (BRFC) new stadium to be built on land adjacent to the University of West England's Frenchay campus are to be submitted today (9 March). South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) will be responsible for deciding the fate of the npower League Two club's proposed development, which has been designed by Arturus Architects. Gleeds, Pegasus Planning Consultants and transport adviser TPA have worked with club officials in

Nottingham City Council (NCC) has announced the opening of the city's new £9m Victoria Leisure Centre in Sneinton, which forms part of a wider investment in local facilities. The council joined forces with inspiredspaces - a company established by Carillion - to lead the project through a public-private joint venture, the Local Education Partnership. A 70-station gym fitted with Technogym and Power Plate equipment and a fitness studio are among

Sun Lane Leisure, a new £10m swimming pool and fitness centre being built in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is now at its highest point after the project reached the topping out stage. Due for completion this summer, the NPS North East -designed complex is being delivered by Willmott Dixon Construction and will include a six-lane, 25m swimming pool. Other facilities will include a 13m x 7m learner pool; a 100-station fitness

SportHouse, a multi-million pound sports arena and newly-built Games-time training venue for London 2012, is to officially launch in Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham, on 27 March. Morgan Sindall was appointed last summer to build the LRK Associates-designed complex, which will boast one of the UK's largest multi-use sports hall at 5,000sq m (53,820sq ft). The sports hall has been fitted with Taraflex flooring manufactured by Gerflor and has been designed to

Major League Soccer (MLS) club San Jose Earthquakes has moved a step closer to its new stadium after planning officials for the California, US city backed the proposals. The San Jose Planning Commission was unanimous in upholding the planned development permit for the scheme, which now enables the club to commence work on the scheme. Designed by 360 Architecture, the 18,000-seat stadium is expected to cost around US$60m (£37.7m, EUR44.9m)

Bristol City Council (BCC) and operator Parkwood Leisure have announced the opening of a £32m flagship leisure facility as part of the regeneration of the city's Hengrove Park area. Hengrove Park Leisure Centre was funded with £35.06m of private finance initiative credits from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and was built by lead contractor Kier. The LA Architects -designed building has opened on time and on budget, with

A new NZ$20m (£10.6m, EUR12.5m, US$16.8m) temporary stadium is scheduled to open in Christchurch, New Zealand, ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby Season next month. Populous have designed the 18,000-seat complex, which boasts two partially covered stands and will be the city's only outdoor sports and entertainment facility for the next few years. It follows a devastating earthquake more than a year ago, which left the city's AMI Stadium -

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has welcomed the latest milestone in work to construct a new £24m leisure centre for the city, following the installation of the roof. S&P Architects are behind the design of the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, which will boast a 500sq m (5,382sq ft) spa area with a 60sq m (646sq ft) terrace when complete. Willmott Dixon is the lead contractor and is