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

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

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

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

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

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,

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