A NEW community sports centre is nearing completion in Huddersfield.

And the centre at Leeds Road playing fields will be handed over by the building contractors tomorrow.

The centre is the result of a huge scheme developed by a partnership that has involved Kirklees Leisure and Recreation Services, Huddersfield Town Football Club and Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd.

The development will provide a multi-court five-a-side complex, new changing rooms, and other site improvements, as well as being the base for the football club's academy requirements for an indoor area, classrooms and offices.

Tomorrow, building contractors Marshalls of Elland will hand over the newly-constructed building on the playing fields to the main partners.

Clr John Smithson, the council's Cabinet member responsible for leisure, said: "This is the culmination of a fantastic partnership effort, which will bring wide benefits to the local community, the council, the stadium company and Huddersfield Town football club.

"This major amenity will give a massive boost to sport and leisure in the area.

"It will provide a badly needed new centre for local clubs, groups and the local community, and modern changing facilities, as well as the academy for the football club, which is essential for the maintenance of its academy status.

"The Leeds Road Playing Fields site is of immense importance. This partnership project is a vital element of our overall strategies for promoting leisure and recreation in the district, and providing quality facilities to raise standards."

The complex has a half-pitch synthetic turf surface under cover, for use by the community, schools and other recognised football development groups.

New changing rooms serving the whole Leeds Road complex are incorporated into the new building, with offices and seminar rooms, and social provision for all users and spectators to replace the existing old pavilion.

The next stage will be to fit out with lockers, furniture, bar, a servery and reception areas, as well as transferring the supervisory arrangements from the existing building.

This work should be complete and the building in full use by late September.