Image: Dagenham's Becontree Heath Leisure Centre

Drivers Jonas Deloitte (DJD) has found that sport and fitness facility openings in London have "gathered pace" ahead of this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games.

According to the latest Sports Crane survey, more than 350 new facilities have been unveiled across the capital since it was awarded the Games' hosting rights in 2005.

The figure includes 100 new-build facilities, with the remainder consisting of extensions to existing centres. Nearly two-thirds of the projects have been privately-funded.

DJD's research found that, in five of the past six years, sports and fitness facility openings have been at a faster rate than commercial office schemes in central London.

The gym sector has seen "significant expansion", with nearly 7,500 stations opened since 2006; 2,000 of which were added in 2011 and 76 per cent of which are in the budget sector.

DJD head of sport, leisure and hospitality Geoff Aucock said: "We all want the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire young and old to get active and participate in sport - and to do that, people need access to the right facilities.

"Our survey offers good news on that front, showing that in London there has been growing investment from public and private sectors in new and modernised sports facilities."

Among new facilities to open during the survey period is Dagenham's £23m Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, which was unveiled in May 2011 and was designed by S&P Architects.

Other openings include the £21m SportsDock complex at the University of East London's Docklands Campus and SportHouse in Mayesbrook Park - both earlier this year.

Details: www.djdeloitte.co.uk