Building work has begun on a new leisure centre in Stechford, east Birmingham.

The £9m centre will replace the existing Stechford Cascades facility and will include a health and fitness club with a 120-station gym floor and exercise studio, 25m competition pool with spectator seating, a learner pool, multi-use sports hall and café.

Owned by Birmingham City Council, the centre will be operated by Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT).

BCLT chair, Brian Taylor, said: “The new centre will be completed in early 2018 and the existing Cascades will be open as usual until then.

“We look forward to welcoming residents throughout the community to a fabulous, modern building which will encourage young and old to choose healthy lifestyles and have fun too!”

The Stechford site is one of three ageing leisure centres being replaced by Birmingham City Council and BCLT – the charity which operates the centres on behalf of the council – as part of a £40m investment in the city’s leisure portfolio.

The other existing centres due to be replaced with brand new facilities are located in Erdington and Northfield.

In addition to the trio of replacement centres, an additional, fourth centre, will be built in Icknield Port Loop in Edgbaston.

Building work at all four sites is being undertaken by ISG Construction.