University secures backing for £8m leisure centre
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 will be open to the public, boasts a 25 metre six-lane swimming pool, eight courts for sports such as basketball, badminton, netball and five-a-side football, a health club, multi-purpose studios that can be used for activities such as aerobics, pilates and yoga, a climbing wall and a café.
Work on the centre will begin in April and is due to completed in July 2012. It will be built on Western Boulevard, next to the current John Sandford Sports Centre in Leicester's West End.
The designs have been created by S&P Architects, who are leading experts in leisure centre projects and are responsible for the detailed design of the Aquatic Centre which is being built for the London 2012 Olympics.
Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: "This is magnificent news for the university and for the local community who will benefit from our excellent sports facilities.
"Despite the difficult challenges that the HE sector is facing, we are committed to investing in the university's facilities, to offer the best to our students and to make a positive difference to the community.
"The new building is going to look spectacular and will provide a landmark entrance to the campus from the West End of the city."
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