Work is underway on a £7m dual-use sports complex at John Port School in Etwall, South Derbyshire. It will replace the existing Etwall Leisure Centre which is located next to the school, and will be used by students during the day and by the public during the evenings and at weekends.

The new centre will boast a six-lane, 25m-competition pool, a six-court sports hall, a fitness suite, meeting rooms and a café.

Local councillor John Lemmon said: “Obviously the 2,000 students at our school and the many primary schools in the area will benefit from the facilities, but they will also be used by people from the whole of the district.”

Constructor GF Tomlinson will build the facility with funding from a number of partners: John Port School, Derbyshire County Council, the district council, Sport England, the East Midlands Development Agency, Toyota Manufacturing UK and Etwall Leisure Centre Community Group.

Sport England’s Community Club Development Programme also contributed funds specifically for the development of the badminton facilities at the new centre and their advisers worked with Badminton England to ensure the facilities will be designed to encourage the development of badminton in the area. “Support from the Community Club Development Programme will help to develop talent,” said Anne Rippon of Sport England East Midlands.

Clive Bridge, corporate affairs director of Toyota Manufacturing UK, said: “We’ve contributed to a range of local projects that involve the environment, health, children and education. The new leisure centre will be a real benefit for all in the local parishes around the Derbyshire production plant.”

The centre is expected to be open by summer 2009.