CONSTRUCTION of the new £15m Spen Valley Leisure Centre has reached a major new milestone with the installation of the main steel frame on site.

The steel frame phase of the build will continue until October as the leisure centre structure begins to take form. The full build programme remains on track for the new facility to open in the winter of 2021-22.

Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “It is fantastic to see the progress on site and you can now really begin to see the form the final Spen Valley Leisure Centre will take.

“This is a major development project that will provide truly outstanding state-of-the-art leisure facilities for residents of all ages in the Spen Valley. Despite the challenges of the pandemic over the last few months we remain fully committed to delivering long-awaited investments all over Kirklees, including the Spen Valley Leisure Centre.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some of the smaller fitness facilities in Kirklees, including Spenborough Fitness Complex that sits next to the site, are unable to open.

The multi-level design and access routes within the building, along with the current social distancing and additional hygiene requirements, makes it impossible for the facility to open safely for the foreseeable future.

The existing fitness complex was due to be removed once the new leisure centre opened.

Kirklees Council and Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) have decided, due to the current circumstances, that the removal of the existing Spenborough fitness complex building will be brought forward and that this facility will now not reopen. The authorities hope it will speed up completion of the new carpark and other external facilities in time for the leisure centre opening and improve the experience for customers.