The construction of a new £6.5m Regional Centre for Athletes in north east of England is now underway in Gateshead following receipt of planning permission at the end of August.

Facilities at the Regional Performance Centre, designed by architects FaulknerBrowns, will include an athletics hall with a sprint straight and jumping and throwing areas.

There will also be a two-storey sports science and medicine centre adjacent to the teaching and learning spaces of the Sports Science Department of Gateshead College.

The centre is being created for use by both the community and elite athletes, as well as being a home for staff of the English Institute of Sport (ES).

Being built adjacent to the existing Gateshead Stadium, the facility is expected to be jointly funded by Sport England, the Gateshead Council and the Learning Skills Council and is due to reach completion by Christmas 2005.