Work started last Friday (21 February) on an £11m leisure centre for Washington, replacing an outdated facility.

Funding for the centre was first announced last year as part of Sunderland City Council’s £60m capital programme.

Deputy leader of the council, Harry Trueman, says this investment is part of the council’s commitment to encouraging people to be more active. “Since 2004, the council and its partners have invested more than £60m in developing sport and leisure provision across the city, more than any other council outside of London,” he says.

The centre will offer new facilities in keeping with current trends, including a floodlit 3G football five-a-side pitch, while the size of the gym will be doubled and extra car parking will be added.

There will also be a bigger soft play area, across two levels, a multipurpose hall which will be able to accommodate trampolining training to an international standard, a four-court sports hall, two squash courts and sauna, steamrooms and a relaxation area.

The centre is slated to open in summer 2015. Until then, the existing leisure centre will remain open and will be demolished later to create the pitches and car park extension.