Construction work is finally set to begin on the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

The centre was first put to public consultation in 2016 and it has taken more than three years for final planning approval to be secured.

The Chiltern Lifestyle Centre – owned by Chiltern District Council (CDC) – has been designed as a "community hub", bringing together a wide range of sport, leisure and community activities and facilities.

Leisure facilities include a day spa, two swimming pools, a health club with a large gym floor and group exercise studios, a sports hall and squash courts.

There will also be a climbing and bouldering area and soft play zone.

Non-leisure services at the centre will include a library, community centre and a pre-school nursery.

Work is set to begin in October 2019 with a completion date set for late 2021.

Chiltern District Council recruited sports and leisure planning consultancy KKP to develop the strategy and assess the feasibility for the flagship facility.

KKP then worked with Space & Place Architects to develop the concept and design.

David McHendry, Managing Director at KKP, said: “The blueprint for the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre incorporates the key benefits of co-location and demonstrates the synergy achieved by a complementary range of community services located under one roof.

"The operational challenge is to ensure that all the key user groups benefit from a centralised catering offer and extensive ancillary facilities without losing their identity.”

The new centre will replace the current Chiltern Pools centre, which has been deemed no longer fit for purpose. Built in 1965, the centre would require urgent repair or replacement in some key areas of the facility, making it uneconomical to run long-term.