The new Britannia Leisure Centre in Hackney, London, has opened its doors to the public.

The centre is operated by charitable social enterprise Better – a GLL brand – and forms part of the first phase of an ambitious mixed-use community development located next to Shoreditch Park, alongside a new school and residential properties.

Set over four floors, the leisure centre houses a six-lane, 25m main pool with access to a steamroom and sauna and a 20m x 10m training pool with movable floor and sensory lighting installation.

Other wet areas include a splash ‘leisure water’ facility for children and families to enjoy, equipped with water features and a 15m-high water flume.

There is also a large health and fitness suite with a gym floor, five flexible studio spaces, a six-court indoor sports hall and four squash courts.

Outdoor facilities include two five-a-side football pitches and two tennis courts on the roof of the building.

Built by Morgan Sindall Construction, the project was delivered for Hackney Council and procured through the Southern Construction Framework,

Councillor Chris Kennedy, cabinet member for leisure, said: "The new Britannia has been developed in consultation with local people so it was wonderful to experience the sense of excitement felt by residents as they used the incredible facilities for the first time.

“This new centre is part of the biggest public sector investment in the area in a generation and is built for local residents so I can’t wait to see them use it more and more over the summer."