Work has started to renovate Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, following a campaign to save the Grade II listed building.

The £5m ($7m,€5.7m) renovation will be carried out by leisure charity Fusion Lifestyle, in partnership with design firm Creatability and a number of undisclosed companies.

The baths, which originally opened in 1928, closed to the public in April 2013. Fusion secured planning permission and listed building consent for the property in 2016, after seeing a community campaign to re-open the baths.

Estimated to be completed in summer 2019, the project includes plans to return the pool and baths to their former glory, including the careful restoration of some the building's original features including the 1920s pool tiles, wood-panelled changing rooms and the Turkish baths terrazzo flooring.

The new development will also feature a new spa with improved disabled access, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness suite, and conditioning studios.

Cllr Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: "It's great to see redevelopment work starting on this historic city treasure."

Ian Cotgrave, managing director of Createability, said: "The restoration plans will turn this historic 1920s building into a stunning leisure destination fit for 21st-century use."

"This has to be one of the most exciting projects we have worked on to date. We cannot wait to reveal the beautiful facilities to the local community."

Anthony Cawley, operations director at Fusion Lifestyle, said: "We're delighted to start the exciting work to bring the Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths back to life for a new generation."

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