Dundee City Council's (DCC) plans to create a new regional gymnastics centre as part of a refurbishment of the city's Dick McTaggart Sports Centre have been handed a boost.

sportscotland has announced that it will invest £1.2m in the scheme, which is to provide two sprung floor exercise areas; a range of gymnastic apparatus; and a dance studio. Changing rooms and a café are also proposed as part of the multi-million pound overhaul of the facility, which has been shut since August 2010 after Dundee College gave up its lease.

The Dick McTaggart Gymnastics Centre would enable national gymnasts and trampolinists to train, while also making the facilities available to grassroots users. sportscotland chair Louise Martin said: "This new centre in Dundee is hugely important for the sport of gymnastics and is another exciting development in the growing network of quality sports facilities across Scotland.

"What will be created here in Dundee will provide fantastic opportunities for people to try a whole range of fun activities as part of an active and healthy lifestyle."