A contractor has been appointed to begin work on Haltemprice Leisure Centre, in Anlaby, Yorkshire, which is expanding to include a doctor's surgery, library and customer service centre as well as sport and fitness facilities.

The £6m makeover of the leisure centre was given planning approval on 18 December by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which also owns the facility.

Local construction company Hobson & Porter will lead the build, which will begin late April and is set to be complete by autumn 2014.

The build will take place in a phased approach, beginning with the transformation of the rear of the building into the main entrance and refurbishment of outdoor pitches and the addition of parking spaces.

The scheme will also see a Tone Zone fitness suite extended, pool and sports hall refurbished and a new café.

Construction will also address a number of maintenance requirements and improve energy efficiency.

The council stated the partnership with the NHS to provide a doctor's surgery at the centre strengthened the link between keeping active and keeping healthy.

Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council Stephen Parnaby said: "Thanks to prudent financial management this council is able to invest at a time when other authorities are cutting back."

"This investment will not only put Haltemprice at the forefront of leisure facilities in the UK, it will also provide a timely boost to the local economy and we are delighted that this project will be delivered by a local construction company, helping to safeguard jobs in the industry."