The refurbishment of the Willesden Sports Centre – a £16m project being funded by £14m of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits – has reached a major milestone.

Sports minister Richard Caborn attended a special topping out ceremony that marked the completion of the steel work and the commencement of the next phase of the development.

The project was secured by Brent Council in March 2005, with PFI specialists Linteum and operator Leisure Connection.

Caborn said: “I was really impressed. The design looks fantastic and there’s no doubt that when it opens next year, it will be much used and much loved by the community.”

The sports centre will include a six-lane, 25m pool, a sports hall, fitness suite, martial arts dojo and indoor athletics facilities – the centre is planned to complement a neighbouring sports college.

The new pool, due to open next November, will be the first in Brent for 30 years.