A £21m leisure centre at Hengrove Park in Bristol is set to open several months later than anticipated owing to the impact of the recession.

Cllr Simon Cook, cabinet member for sports, culture and capital projects, said: “The council is working with all its partners and key stakeholders to ensure the leisure centre remains at the heart of the regeneration of south Bristol.

“The infrastructure works to provide road access and utilities to serve the leisure centre are on track. The government has also confirmed that the current funding for the project in the form of PFI credits is secure.

“However, the global downturn is kicking in. As a result, there will be some delay to the start of work on site and the projected date for the opening of the leisure centre is being revised and will probably have to be put back.”

The new facility will provide the community with a ten-lane, 50-metre swimming pool and learner pool, a spa pool and a steam room, as well as a health and fitness suite equipped with 150 work stations and a free weights area.

Additional facilities will include an aerobics studio and four-court sports hall for badminton, basketball, athletics training, five-a-side football and netball.

A Healthy Living Zone will provide a café and a crèche.