BUILDING work has started on the new Huddersfield Leisure Centre.
The new multi-million pound leisure centre is being built on the former site of Spring Grove car park in Springwood.
The flagship leisure centre will be owned by the council and managed by Kirklees Active Leisure.
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It is being built by BAM Construction’s north east team, whose last project in Huddersfield was the University’s new Business School.
The firm won the tender offered by Kirklees Council.
The centre will be open to the public in 2015. It will replace the existing Huddersfield Sports Centre, in Southgate, which is coming to the end of its life and will close once the new centre is up and running.
There have been concerns about funding for the new centre.
The council has sold the existing sports centre site to Tesco for a new superstore, but exact details of how much the retail giant is contributing to the project have not been revealed.
Councillors say the £36m bill for the new centre will be funded by a combination of cash from the sale of the existing site and council funds that would otherwise have to be spent on repairs to the current sports centre and other buildings, running into millions of pounds.
Clr Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “I’m delighted that work has started on site and that we’re another step closer to having a fantastic, accessible and very modern leisure centre in Kirklees.
“The new leisure centre will complement our other successful centres across the districts, which are managed by Kirklees Active Leisure.
“It’s a welcome boost for the local economy and building the leisure centre will help with our regeneration plans, as well as supporting apprenticeships and creating job opportunities.
“It will also encourage children and adults of all ages and abilities from a diverse range of backgrounds to stay healthy and fit in a safe environment.
“Who knows, it may even be used by our future sports champions. We have been working hard over the past few years towards procuring a new leisure centre facility for people in Huddersfield and the wider region, and we look forward to welcoming lots of new people into the centre once it opens.”
BAM project and construction director John Phillips said: “It is very encouraging to see projects of this scale arising from the [construction initiative] YORBuild Framework and it’s great for BAM to build here in Huddersfield again.
“Huddersfield is a large part of our strong track record across the north east of England and we’ll be doing our absolute best to create economic opportunities for local people and businesses from this exciting scheme.”
Facilities in the new centre will include a 25-metre swimming pool; a teaching pool; two sports halls; climbing, squash and martial arts facilities; a large fitness suite and a café and children’s area.
The new centre will also include a family leisure water facility, including a beach, flume, “sidewinder” and several more water features.
The council has set up a webcam on the Civic Centre to monitor the building work and it can be viewed on www.kirklees.gov.uk/huddersfieldleisurecentre
