Work will begin on the new £8.4m Grimsby Leisure Centre this summer, after Interserve Construction was awarded the building contract by North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC).

The site is expected to be complete by Autumn 2015 and will be built on land adjacent to the current Grimsby Leisure Centre and Grimsby Auditorium. The facility will replace Grimsby Swimming Pool and also the fun pool within Grimsby Leisure Centre, creating a county competition standard facility with supporting gym and fitness facilities. The new FaulknerBrowns-designed centre – to be operated by Lincs Inspire – will include a 25m (82ft), eight-lane swimming pool with learner pool, changing facilities, plus a health and fitness suite with studio space and a café.

Councillor Mick Burnett, NELC cabinet member for leisure and tourism, hailed the progress and expressed excitement that work would finally start on the project, having been in the pipeline for several years.

"We know some people have been anxious about our proposals, but the fact is that this council is one of the few in the country prepared to invest in new leisure facilities for our residents instead of just shoring up older centres, which just isn't sustainable in the long run,” he said.