Building work on a multi-million pound overhaul of Gateshead's Dunston Leisure Centre has been officially completed after the keys were handed over to the local authority. Willmott Dixon has been responsible for delivering the S&P Architects-designed scheme, which has transformed the 1960s swimming pool into a multi-use leisure complex. The construction phase has taken a year and contractors - along with Gateshead Council - will now carry out the finishing

North Lincolnshire Council (NLC) has announced that work on a new multi-million pound leisure complex in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, has reached the topping out stage. A special ceremony has been held to mark the project's latest milestone, which also saw the last tile laid in the swimming pool at the Andrew Wright-designed venue. S&P Architects has worked on the scheme as 'delivery' architects, while Buro Happold and Bowmer and Kirkland have

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has announced that construction work has started on the new multi-million pound Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre. Willmott Dixon commenced work on site following a turf-cutting ceremony on 21 March, with the S&P Architects-designed venue due for completion in summer 2012. Facilities at the Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre will include a 500sq m (5,382sq ft) spa area with a 60sq m (646sq ft) terrace

South Tyneside Council (STC) has announced that construction work has started on a new £16m swimming pool and leisure complex on the seafront in South Shields. Designed by LA Architects, the complex will be located on the town's former Majestic and Quasar Laser site and will be delivered by construction firm GRAHAM. Facilities will include a 25m, eight-lane competition pool and an 18m x 8m teaching pool - both with

Efforts to secure the future of a historic 1930s lido in Saltdean, East Sussex, have received a boost after it was confirmed that the property's listing is to be upgraded to Grade II* status. Save Saltdean Lido is working to safeguard the site as a multi-use community leisure facility, with London-based architects Conran and Partners working on the scheme. The campaign group had sought a review of the lido's listing

Plans for a multi-million pound community and leisure centre in Midhurst, West Sussex, have been unveiled by Chichester District Council (CDC). CDC is leading the project with the help of West Sussex County Council; Grange Centre Trustees; and Midhurst Town Council. The Monument Trust has provided funding. Facilities at the new HNW Architects-designed centre will include a four-court sports hall; a multi-purpose community hall; a dance studio; a 70-station fitness

A planning application has been submitted for the development of a new leisure complex in Belper, Derbyshire. Last year, Amber Valley District Council (AVDC) put forward two proposals for the facility mix at the new venue as part of a public consultation. The majority of local residents opted for a complex comprising a 25m swimming pool with teaching pool. Healey Associates are behind the design of the facility, which will

Plans for a new multi-sports and leisure club facility in Farnham, Surrey, have been revised to incorporate a larger health spa area and a smaller sports hall. A number of treatment/therapy rooms and a hydrotherapy area is to be developed as part of the new complex, along with changing facilities. Squash courts; a multi-gym area; sports studios and changing facilities will also be provided, as well as outdoor tennis courts

A new environmentally-friendly leisure complex is to be developed in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after the local authority approved the proposals. East Cambridgeshire District Council's (ECDC) planning committee has awarded planning permission for the Roberts Limbrick-designed facility. A 25m, six-lane swimming pool; a children's leisure water area; a six-court sports hall; and an additional fitness area are proposed as part of the development. Space for indoor cricket; spinning rooms; dance and aerobic

The Community College, Whitstable, has opened a £162,500 fitness suite equipped by Life Fitness as part of its upgrade under the Building Schools for the Future programme. The redevelopment, designed and carried out by Createability in partnership with Zynk Design, included linking the main school building with its sports centre and using the' link' area, which was previously an open air plant room, as a gym. Use of the school's

Plans for a £4.8m scheme to create new fitness and youth facilities in Liverpool, along with a new home for Toxteth Fire Station, have been unveiled by the local authority. The Toxteth Firefit proposals have now been lodged with the Big Lottery Fund, which is to include the redevelopment of Toxteth Sports Centre. Facilities will include a sports hall, a fitness suite, a climbing wall and a dance/drama studio, as

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has confirmed that Willmott Dixon has been appointed to deliver the new £24.7m Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre. Michael McNamara & Co was revealed as the preferred contractor for the S&P Architects-designed scheme last year but went into receivership before contracts were signed SACDC has now confirmed that it has signed a construction contract with Willmott Dixon to move forward with the demolition and

Plans for the construction of a new £3.1m sports hall at Wellsway School, Keynsham, have been rejected by Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES). Facilities at the Boyes Rees Architects-designed complex would include a large sports hall; a dance studio; a fitness suite with free weights; changing areas; and teaching space. The reprovision of tennis courts and cricket nets also formed part of the scheme, which was refused planning

Work on a multi-million pound refurbishment scheme at Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock, Staffordshire, is to get underway in April. Cannock Chase District Council (CCDC) has appointed Derby-based GF Tomlinson as its main contractor for the scheme, following the completion of a tender process. Due for completion in 2012, the scheme will include a 25m competition-standard swimming pool with boom and moveable floor; a 150-station fitness suite; and a dance

Plans for a new £31m leisure and community facility in Redcar have received the support of local residents, following a public exhibition and consultation. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) is proposing a purpose-built venue as part of the scheme, which will feature a six-lane, 25m swimming pool and leisure pool. A dance hall and performance space; a fitness suite and junior gym; and business space for small-to-medium enterprises are

Lewisham Council has announced that work has commenced on the construction of a new leisure centre in Forest Hill, South London. Willmott Dixon has been appointed to build the Roberts Limbrick-designed facility, which will occupy the site of the former Forest Hill Pools and is due to open in late 2012. A 25m main swimming pool; a 16.7m learner pool; a fitness gym; two studios; a café; and a community

The City of York Council (CYC) has approved plans for a new £9m sports complex as part of a wider expansion of the University of York's Heslington East campus. York Sports Village will feature a competition-standard eight-lane, 25m swimming pool and a learner pool; a 100-station gym; and a full-size 3G astroturf pitch. Three further five-a-side football pitches are also planned as part of the new Space Architects-designed complex, which

Gateshead Council has announced that Dunston Leisure Centre is to reopen to the public on 11 April, following a multi-million pound refurbishment. S&P Architects are behind the design of the 12-month revamp, which included the provision of a new gym and two studios alongside improved swimming facilities. Dunston Leisure Centre's steamroom, sauna, and squash court access have also undergone a series of improvements, along with changing rooms and the building's

De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester will invest in a new £8m leisure centre designed by S&P Architects. Plans to build the centre were given the final go-ahead by the university's Finance and HR Committee and approved by the Board of Governors today (18 February). The Leicester City Council's planning authority had given planning approval for the project at its committee meeting on 18 January 2011. The two-storey building, which

Redditch Borough Council (RBC) is to proceed with plans to reuse energy from the town's crematorium to heat the revamped Abbey Stadium Leisure Centre. Members of the full council approved the proposal at its meeting on 7 February, which will enable work to start on diverting waste heat into the complex. It is the first project of its kind in the UK and will see 100 per cent of the

North Lincolnshire Council (NLC) has confirmed that Scunthorpe Leisure Centre is to be demolished in the autumn in order to provide land for redevelopment. Subject to approval, the 27-year-old facility on Carlton Street will make way after the local authority revealed it had received interest from groups looking to develop the site. Scunthorpe Leisure Centre employees will transfer to The Pods, a new facility designed by Andrew Wright with S&P

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has earmarked £16.7m towards a new leisure centre in its corporate plan and budget for 2011-16. The funding will go towards the development of the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, work on which is already underway ahead of a scheduled completion date in 2012. Cabinet members also approved investment for a new leisure facility at Cotlandswick, London Colney, as part of 'priority' plans

Stroud District Council (SDC) has announced that it is looking into the possibility of using food waste to power Stratford Park Leisure Centre, Gloucestershire. Following the council's cabinet meeting in January, proposals are being drawn up for a new anaerobic digester facility to convert household and commercial food waste into energy. One of the potential locations for the installation is at the rear of the leisure complex, which has an

Steiner Leisure is to be the exclusive operator of a new spa facility that is set to open at the refurbished Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Nevada, US. The operator has secured a 10-year agreement from the opening date of the facility, with an option to renew the deal for two five-year periods. Located on the Las Vegas Strip, the Tropicana is currently undergoing a major US180m (£112.8m)

The independently-owned Mere Golf and Country Club near Knutsford in Cheshire has launched a £4m day spa as part of a £15m rebrand. The club will be rebranded as simply The Mere and will be marketed as Cheshire's first five-star golf and spa resort. The Spa at The Mere will boast seven treatment rooms, a large indoor pool, hammam, rasul, a hydrotherapy area, an aroma steamroom, a caldarium and a

De Montfort University (DMU) has been given the green light to proceed with plans for a multi-million pound leisure centre development in Leicester. Leicester City Council granted planning permission for the scheme on 18 January, having already agreed to sell land off Duns Lane to the institution in August 2009. The S&P Architects-designed complex will feature a 25m, six-lane swimming pool; a gym and studio; an eight-court sports hall; and

Waverley Borough Council (WBC) has revealed that it has received a planning application for the construction of a new leisure centre in Godalming, Surrey. The proposed development is to be located on a site next to Godalming Lawn Tennis Club and will feature a 25m swimming pool and a learner pool. A 60-station fitness suite, a dance studio and a café are also incorporated into the design of the leisure