A new £8m leisure complex under construction in Dorchester, Dorset, remains on course to open in spring 2012, with the structure of the building now reaching its full height. The Leadbitter Group commenced work on the Dyer-designed Dorchester Sports Centre in November 2010, with facilities to include a six-lane swimming pool and a 60-station gym. A dance studio and a changing village also form part of the complex, which is

The two swimming pools at Scunthorpe's new multi-million pound Pods leisure complex are to open on 11 July - a week after the first facilities at the venue were unveiled. A spokesperson for North Lincolnshire Council has confirmed that the entire building will be open from that date, with other facilities including a split-level, 85-station fitness suite. Two exercise studios; a sauna; a spa bath; a steamroom; a six-court sports

Construction work is now underway on a new £21m sports and leisure facility to replace the existing Fife Institute for Physical and Recreational Educational (FIPRE) in Glenrothes. Graham Construction has been chosen by Fife Council to build the new complex, which has been designed by B3 Architects and Cre8 Architecture. Facilities will include a 25m x 17m, eight-lane competition pool with viewing gallery to cater for 250 spectators and a

Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) has backed plans for the development of a new multi-million pound sports and leisure village on the site of a former prisoner of war camp. A special meeting of the full council on 4 July approved the Island Farm scheme, which had already received the backing of the local authority's planning committee in late June. The plans - comprising a 15,000-seat rugby league stadium and

Spa management and skincare company ESPA revealed ESPA Life, its brand new spa concept, at the five-star, 294-bedroom Corinthia Hotel London, UK, yesterday (4 July 2011). ESPA Life is billed as 'a leading voice in the next generation of spa' and will offer a fully integrated wellness approach alongside a luxury spa experience. The wellness menu includes lifestyle programmes that focus on detox, sleep, weight-loss, pregnancy and general vitality. It

Churchill Sports Centre in North Somerset is undergoing a £900,000 redevelopment. The leisure centre, a dual use site with Churchill Community School, is managed by leisure trust Tone, which is investing more than £100,000 towards the work, whilst North Somerset Council will provide the further £800,000. The redevelopment, carried out by leisure development partner Createability and project managed by Alliance Leisure, will include a 35-station gym, two studios and a

A split-level, 85-station fitness suite and a six-court sports hall are among the first facilities to be opened today (4 July) at The Pods leisure complex in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Two exercise studios; a sauna; a spa bath; a steamroom; and a café with an outdoor terrace have also been unveiled at the venue by North Lincolnshire Council (NLC). However, the council has yet to confirm a date for the opening

A ceremony has taken place to mark the start of construction work at the £13.7m Tollcross Aquatics Centre in Glasgow, which is to be used for swimming events at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The scheme has been designed by an in-house team at Glasgow City Council (GCC), with Barr Construction appointed to deliver the development. Work will include the creation of a new six-lane, 50m warm-up swimming pool to add

Researchers at the University of Bradford have devised a new formula for measuring tranquillity, which could help to increase the health benefits of urban and country parks. According to Greg Watts, professor of transportation noise at the School of Engineering's Centre for Sustainable Environments, the toolkit could help in the design of better parks. Methods to assess noise levels and the visual setting have been devised by Professor Watt, which

The first phase of a new sports centre at the University of Cambridge is scheduled to open in time for the 2013-14 academic year, after a £16m funding proposal was approved. Deborah Lowther, chair of the university's sports syndicate, announced that the institution was now satisfied that the scheme would provide value for money and help meet demand. A sports hall and gym will be created in the first phase

A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the latest milestone in the construction of the new £46.5m Life Centre leisure complex in Plymouth, Devon. Representatives from the local authority joined Balfour Beatty's senior project manager Jim McGee to fix the final sheet of the 9,100sq m (97,952sq ft) roof into place at the building. Designed by Archial, the 18,161sq m (195,483sq ft) Life Centre is to be operated

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has confirmed that oxygen therapy had been administered to three men, following an incident at The Pods leisure centre in Scunthorpe. According to HFRS, an explosion occurred in the venue's chlorine treatment plant due to a build-up of pressure that led to the release of chlorine gas from the swimming pool area. North Lincolnshire Council has now commenced work on a clear up operation

Sutton Council has unveiled the first look at how Carshalton's Westcroft Leisure Centre is to look, following the completion of an extensive £11.3m revamp to start later this year. The Hoca Practice-designed refurbishment will see the complex close in October and is set to include an eight-lane swimming pool; a large multi-sports hall; and a gym. A dance studio; a café; IT facilities and a library will also be provided

Middlesbrough-based Buckler Demolition has commenced work on clearing the site for a new £31m leisure, business support and community facility in Redcar. Outline plans drawn up by S&P Architects and Plus3 Architects were given the go ahead by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) last week. Detailed proposals for the facility will now be drawn up while the site between Kirkleatham Street and Coatham Road is cleared to make way

Spanish operator Metropolitan has opened its latest health club in the new Las Arenas complex in Barcelona, this month. A former bullring, the mixed use development was designed by Richard Rogers and opened at the end of March. Metropolitan's club occupies threequarters of the complex's fourth floor. The 2,400sq m club is equipped by Technogym - including Kinesis - Life Fitness, Keiser and Power Plate. There's a pilates studio, plus

Rugby-based construction firm Morgan Sindall has been awarded the contract to deliver De Montfort University's (DMU) new £8m leisure centre in Leicester. Work has now commenced on the S&P Architects-designed facility, which will boast a 25m pool; a gym; a climbing wall; eight racket courts; and studios for yoga, aerobics and Pilates. The design of the complex incorporates metallic outer shells and cedar-lined interiors, which are to form towers and

East Kilbride's Dollan Aqua Centre has reopened to the public following the completion of a £7m refurbishment of the Grade A-listed venue, which was carried out by Clark Contracts. The renovation of the complex - originally designed by Alexander Buchanan Campbell and first opened in 1968 - included structural works and new floor, wall and ceiling finishes. Among the facilities at Dollan Aqua Centre is one of Scotland's five 50m

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has confirmed that two additional swimming pool lanes will be added as part of the £24m Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre scheme. Earlier this month, councillors agreed to move forward with the S&P Architects-designed project after considering the findings of a review of its business case, commissioned following May's local elections. Members of SACDC's cabinet noted a need for increased water space to meet

An official 'digging' ceremony has taken place to mark the start of construction work on a new leisure centre in Godalming, Surrey - next to the existing Broadwater park facility. Preparatory work got underway on the £6m development earlier this month after Waverley Borough Council (WBC) approved planning permission. Designed by Pozzoni and to be built by ISG, the centre will be operated by DC Leisure and will incorporate a

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) planners have approved the development of a £31m leisure, business support and community facility in the heart of Redcar. S&P Architects and Plus3 Architects are behind the design of the complex, which is set to feature a 25m, six-lane swimming pool and leisure pool; a fitness suite; and a junior gym. A dance hall and performance space; a sports hall; community facilities; business space

The Pods - a multi-million pound leisure and sports facility being developed in Scunthorpe - has been handed over to North Lincolnshire Council (NLC) ahead of its July opening. Bowmer and Kirkland has completed construction work on the new centre, which has been designed by Andrew Wright with S&P Architects acting as the project's delivery architects. Buro Happold has also been involved with the development of The Pods, which comprises

Councillors have voted to proceed with the £24m Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre project in St Albans, Hertfordshire, following an independent review of the scheme's business case. The review took place after a Conservative-led administration took control of St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) following the local government elections in May. At a meeting on 7 June, cabinet members decided to move forward with the S&P Architects-designed scheme, which has

A new public competition has been launched by Luton Borough Council (LBC), Active Luton and Wates Construction in a bid to find an official name for the town's new £26m aquatic centre. Designed by S&P Architects, the new Stopsley complex will comprise a 50m, eight-lane pool with integrated diving area; a high-dive training centre; and a 20m x 10m community pool. A multi-purpose sports hall; a 100-station fitness suite; two

Leisure trust Tone and development partner Createability have commenced work on a major £900,000 upgrade of the facilities at Churchill Sports Centre in North Somerset. Alliance Leisure is overseeing the delivery of the project, which will boast a 35-station gym; two studios; and a dry changing area. A £300,000 all-weather pitch is also planned. The reception area at the dual-use site is to be remodelled to provide separate entrances for

Work is due to start on Wakefield ONE - a new £10m swimming pool and fitness complex in Wakefield - today (6 June) as part of the local authority's wider regeneration plans. Willmott Dixon Construction has been chosen to build the NPS North East-designed venue, which will be located on Sun Lane and is due for completion next summer. Drivers Jonas Deloitte is also involved with the scheme, which will

The £38m Basildon Sporting Village has been officially opened by The Duke of Gloucester. The S&P Architects-designed complex will boast the county's first Olympic-sized swimming pool and a 24.2m x 10m (79.4ft x 32.8ft) climbing wall, as well as a 100-station fitness suite. Sports and Leisure Management (SLM) has been appointed to operate the facility under its Everyone Active brand - part of a wider leisure management deal with Basildon

Sandwell Council has announced that work has now commenced at the site of a new £8.1m swimming pool complex to be developed in Tipton, West Midlands. Work is currently being carried out to create a new access road to the new pool complex site from Alexandra Road and Thursfield Road. The project is to be completed by spring 2013. The venue - designed by Sandwell Urban Design Architects, the council's