Rochdale Borough Council has appointed Willmott Dixon Construction to design and build the new leisure centre in Rochdale town centre.

The company, which has also worked with the council on St Anne's Academy in Middleton, has been appointed to deliver the £10.8m project and work is now underway to submit a full planning application later this month.

Plans for the new centre include two swimming pools, a sports hall and a large fitness gym along with a youth gym and dance studios.

Work is due to start on site in November.

Executive director at Rochdale Council, John Patterson, said: "This will be a fantastic sports venue for Rochdale residents providing much better pools, gyms and studios in a modern environment.

It's vital that we provide residents of all ages with great facilities for keeping fit and I'm delighted that we've now got a contractor on board so we can move to the detailed design stage."

The new centre, scheduled to open in 2012, will be managed by leisure trust Link4Life.

Said Link4Life managing director, Craig McAteer: "The Rochdale centre is the final major project in a three-year programme of investment that brings modern, high quality facilities to the the borough. It will transform the services available to local people."

Willmott Dixon managing director for the North West, Anthony Dillon, said: "It's great news to be involved in another project in Rochdale.

"Most of our team live locally and this project will give local firms the opportunity to be involved in delivering a fantastic leisure facility that is another key element of the regeneration of the town centre."

And Council Leader Irene Davidson, said: "At a time when the council, like many others in the region, is having to take difficult decisions to make necessary efficiency savings, it's important that we keep our focus on providing great facilities for residents, and keep moving Rochdale forward."