The opening of Maltby Leisure Centre, the last of four new facilities being developed by Rotherham Metropolitian Borough Council, has been postponed until March 2010.

The centre, which was expected to open this year, is part of a £35m redevelopment project led by the council and operator DC Leisure. Willmott Dixon are carrying out the construction work, which has been delayed due to problems associated with the demolition of the site's existing council buildings. The current leisure centre will remain open until the new Maltby facility is finished.

When completed, the Maltby centre will feature a six-lane competition pool, a separate diving and teaching pool, a fitness suite and a four-court sports hall. The facility will also include a Joint Service Centre, which is the first stage of a long-term strategy between the council and the Rotherham Primary Care Trust to create a one-stop shop for health and local authority services. The centre is being supported by RBT Connect, a joint partnership between the council and BT, which will also provide a new customer service centre.

Rotherham Leisure Complex is the latest centre to be officially launched, and offers a 25m swimming pool and learner pool, leisure waters and a flume tower alongside a 90-station fitness suite, a six-court sports hall and a climbing wall. There are also four squash courts, a café and a meeting room. Other centres, already open, include the dual-use Wath-upon-Dearne Leisure Centre and the Aston-cum-Aughton Leisure Centre.

The whole project is a joint public/private venture funded by the DCMS and the Department for Communities and Local Government through its private finance initiative (PFI). Funding has also been provided by the Lottery's New Opportunities for PE and School Sports fund, Rotherham Primary Care Trust and from the council's capital budget.