Hough End Leisure Centre starts on site

Laing O'Rourke has started work on a £9.2m leisure centre in south Manchester for the city council.

The leisure centre on the site of a former car park is one of three facilities planned by the council for the city, along with developments in Levenshulme and Beswick.

The centre will feature a six-lane swimming pool and learner pool. The facility will also have a health and fitness gym, two squash courts and a sauna and steam room.

The project is expected to complete in spring 2015. The building was designed by Aedas Architects.

Cllr Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member, said: "A phenomenal amount of hard work and planning has gone into this project so it is a real milestone to see work begin on the brand new leisure centre.

"Manchester is renowned as a world class sporting city and this new resource will sit alongside our elite facilities bringing a top class leisure centre to residents that I'm sure will be cherished and well used for years to come.

"In what has undoubtedly been a tough economic time I am proud that we are not only able to create this leisure centre at Hough End but also brand new facilities in both Levenshulme and Beswick."