Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, a new £16.1m multi-purpose complex being developed in Huyton, Merseyside, is scheduled to open its doors to the public on 26 September. Designed by Broadway Malyan, the 6,600sq m (71,042sq ft) complex will feature a wet spa area with steamroom, sauna and whirlpool, as well as treatment rooms and a relaxation area. Two swimming pools; a six-court sports hall; a fitness suite with up to

A new £23m leisure centre being built in Dagenham, East London, by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) is to open its doors to the public at the end of May. Becontree Heath Leisure Centre has been designed by S&P Architects and delivered by the London-based construction firm, Leadbitter Group on behalf of the local authority. Facilities will include a 95-station fitness suite and three workout studios with

A new publicly-owned stadium will be developed in Ramsey County, US, after local officials secured an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings American Football team. The multi-purpose facility on the site of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant will feature a retractable roof and is expected to cost around US$884m (£538.6m). Populous are behind the design of the scheme. A further US$173m (£105.4m) is to be invested in on-site infrastructure

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and leisure operator Tees Active have announced that the Billingham Forum complex is to reopen on 3 June, following an £18.5m overhaul. Morgan Sindall, the scheme's main contractor, completed work on site at the start of May, which has enabled preparations to commence ahead of the leisure venue's reopening. Facilities at the Devereux Architects-designed Billingham Forum include a six-lane, 25m swimming pool, with an additional training pool

Plans for the development of a new multi-million pound swimming pool in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, are to face further scrutiny after being called in by members of the local authority. Oxford City Council's (OCC) strategic development control committee approved proposals for the scheme on 28 April, but will now go before the planning review committee. The FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed facility would be located at the existing Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and

Graham Construction has been selected to deliver Glenrothes' new £21m sports and leisure centre, which will replace the existing Fife Institute for Physical and Recreational Education (FIPRE). It is anticipated that work will commence on site shortly, with the new facility to be delivered in phases to ensure there is minimal disruption to services during the construction process. Designed by B3 Architects and Crea8 Architecture, the complex will comprise a

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been agreed by the Gulf Organisation for Research Development (GORD) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC). The document will see both organisations work together on the creation of environmentally-sustainable sports venues using Qatar Sustainability Assessment System standards. It is anticipated that the MoU will help reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in the construction of new sporting facilities across the Middle Eastern

Lee Valley White Water Centre near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, has been announced as the first London 2012 venue to open its doors for public use. The facility, which was officially unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal last December, is set to host the Olympic canoe slalom competition next summer. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will own and run the centre before and after the Games, with facilities featuring a 300m

Cannock Chase District Council (CCDC) has announced that work has commenced on the multi-million pound modernisation of its Chase Leisure Centre, Staffordshire. Derby-based contractor GF Tomlinson has been appointed to undertake the revamp, which is due for completion in 2012 and will include a 25m pool with boom and moveable floor. A 150-station fitness suite and a dance studio, along with a 200-seat spectator gallery and a changing village, are

Mediation talks between landowners and applicants regarding a bid to register the proposed site of a new stadium at Bristol's Ashton Vale as a village green have broken down. The village green application is threatening to derail Bristol City Football Club's (BCFC) plans for a 30,000-seat stadium, which have been approved by Bristol City Council. A BCFC spokesperson said: "The club cannot comment further at this stage on the detail

Roehampton Club, a multi-sport members' club in south west London, has announced that a three-phase, £10m refurbishment programme has now been completed. Kier Wallis and David Corley Architects worked on the third and final £5m stage of the revamp, which included the relocation of the club's car parks to the front of the site. The work has also included the creation of a newly-planted central area overlooking its four new

Kier Group has provided the solar energy system for a 500-seat 'model' stadium in Qatar, which has been built to show how sustainable technologies can be used in such projects. The zero-carbon venue has been designed by Arup Associates to illustrate how temperature and humidity levels can be controlled without requiring "vast amounts" of energy. Located on a sun farm outside the stadium, the solar panel system will supply the

A groundbreaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on the new Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center at Tufts University in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, US. The 42,000sq ft (3,902sq m) venue - on College Avenue, Medford - will help the institution in its bid to promote healthier lifestyles and improve competitive athletics. Steve Tisch, the film producer and the chair of New York Giants, provided around

West Nottinghamshire College (WNC) has announced "once-in-a-generation" plans for a £24m redevelopment of its Derby Road campus in Mansfield. A new sports hall with badminton and basketball courts; a sports science lab; a refreshment and viewing area; and changing facilities forms part of the extensive proposals. The Taylor Young-designed project is also set to include a two/three-storey building to house 4,000sq m (43,056sq ft) of additional teaching space, plus a

The Lee Valley White Water Centre near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, has been chosen to host the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships by the International Canoe Federation. Built to stage canoe slalom events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the facility was selected ahead of a rival bid from the French Canoe Federation. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) will own and operate the FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed venue before and

Plans for the development of a new swimming pool in Bridgwater, Somerset, have received a boost after Somerset County Council approved detailed planning permission. The complex - green lighted by the council's regulation committee - will be sited at the new Chilton Trinity School being built under the Building Schools for the Future programme. Proposals for the Scott Brownrigg Architects-designed facility include a 25m x 13m pool; a 13m x

A new £30.6m wellbeing centre in Leeds and a £15m leisure, health and social care facility in Sandwell are among four schemes to be given the green light by the government. The Department of Health has announced financial support for the private finance initiative (PFI) projects, which aim to provide community social care and health facilities. Plans for Holt Park Active Living Centre are being overseen by Leeds City Council

Gateshead Council has launched the new-look Dunston Leisure Centre, following a £5.1m, year-long redevelopment designed by S&P Architects and delivered by Willmott Dixon. The scheme formed part of a wider £36m investment by the local authority in improving its facilities, which included the revamp of Heworth Leisure Centre completed in late 2010. A new 219sq m (2,357sq ft) gym and two studios have been created as part of the scheme,

A new American Football stadium being developed at the University of North Texas (UNT), US, is to be powered by three wind turbines with the help of a US$2m (£1.2m) grant. The funding has been made available by the State Energy Conservation Office, with the new turbines to supply the electrical grid powering the stadium and associated buildings. UNT is planning to open its new 28,000-seat venue in September, which

Leeds Rugby, owner of the city's Headingley Carnegie Stadium, has unveiled new plans for the redevelopment of the 6,000-capacity South Stand terrace. DLA Architecture's proposals have now gone on show as part of a consultation, which will see the stand's capacity increase to 6,500 and boast upgraded access for disabled fans. New alternative changing rooms and enhanced concession areas are also planned, although corporate facilities included in initial plans last

Castleford Tigers rugby league club has been awarded detailed planning permission for the development of a new 13,300-capacity stadium at Glasshoughton, West Yorkshire. Wakefield Council's planning committee approved the project, which has been designed by Ramsden and Partners architects and aims help to secure the club's Super League status. The club also recently revealed that it had signed an agreement with Opus Land (North) and Palmer Capital to sell its

Plans for the construction of a new leisure facility in Godalming, Surrey, have been referred to the government after the £6m scheme was given the green light by local councillors. Waverley Borough Council's (WBC) central area planning committee approved the project at a meeting on 30 March, with a final decision now resting with the communities secretary. The Pozzoni-designed venue will be built by ISG and will boast a 25m

Work on a £5m revamp of Pavilion Leisure Centre, London, is to get underway next month, after a legal agreement was signed by the local authority and the venue's operator. Bromley Council and leisure trust Bromley Mytime have confirmed a deal that will allow a series of improvements to take place at the 20-year-old facility. Savernake Property Consultants will project manage the refurbishment with the support of Archer Architects. Higgins

Three private sector organisations have been shortlisted by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to draw up final bids for the acquisition and management of the Olympic Village. The three bidders are Delancey and Qatari Diar; Hutchinson Whampoa; and the Wellcome Trust, with a final decision to be made by the ODA in the summer. More than 1,400 homes; six development plots with outline planning permission; and parks, courtyards and open

Plans for a new £8.75m leisure centre and swimming pool in Witham, Essex, have been put on show at a public exhibition held by Braintree District Council (BDC). Scott Brownrigg Architects are behind the designs of the new facility, which is to be located adjacent to the Maltings Academy and is part of a council bid to enhance local provision. The new Witham centre will include a six-lane, 25m swimming

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council has announced the opening of a new £607,000 community sports pavilion at Banna Park in Nantyglo, South Wales. The project has been funded by the Welsh Assembly Government's HARPS programme, Silent Valley En-Trust and the local authority. Nantyglo Rugby Club and Nantyglo Bowls Club will make use of the new pavilion, which was designed by the council's technical services division and built by Cowlin Construction.

Engineering consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff - in conjunction with design company Back on Track - have secured a £250,000 contract to create mountain bike trails in South Wales. The consultancy has been selected to design and manage the scheme, which is being led by Forestry Commission Wales in partnership with two local authorities. A total of £915,000 will be invested in new mountain bike trails in Afan Forest Park and in