Hillingdon Council has announced the opening of a new £31m leisure centre to local residents in Uxbridge, west London - a month ahead of the venue's official opening.

The new Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex, which boasts the first Olympic-sized swimming pool to open in London for 40 years, is due to be officially opened by London mayor Boris Johnson on 23 March. Facilities at the centre include a 400sq m (4,306sq ft) cv and static weights area, a 52sq m (560sq ft) spin studio and a 162sq m (1,744sq ft) dance studio, as well as a 105sq m (1,130sq ft) free weights area. Equipment has been supplied by Matrix.

A multi-use sports hall, shallow pools and a sauna and steamroom, are also among the centre's facilities as well as classrooms for training, a café and a crèche. The site's 1930s open-air swimming pool, grandstands, cascades and entrance building have also undergone a full refurbishment as part of the development.

Hillingdon Council has contributed £26m towards the new complex, in addition to more than £2m from the London Development Agency and £1.5m from Sport England. The Heritage Lottery Fund also provided £1m towards the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed open-air pool. Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council, said: "We recognise that quality of life is important to our residents and this complex provides top class facilities that people of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy.

"Along with the new Botwell Green Sports centre that will be opening in Hayes in a few months time, we really will have some of the best sports provision around and a legacy for future generations." Non-residents will be able to sign up for membership of the centre now, which will become active after the venue's official March opening.

Image: Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex's leisure pool