Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (BDBC) has confirmed that a new £12.7m leisure complex in Darwen, Lancashire, will officially open its doors to the public on 29 January.

The new three-storey centre will incorporate a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool with a Sport England-funded moveable floor, a small pool, an 80-station gym, a multi-purpose fitness studio and a multi-use sports hall. More than £250,000 has been invested in the centre's 376sq m (4,047sq ft) gym, which has been equipped by Startrac, and the creation of a new health suite, including a sauna, a steamroom and a massage, aromatherapy and treatment area.

The venue's main swimming pool has been designed to competition standard and is equipped with electronic timing equipment, a video and results scoreboard and spectator seating for 250 people. The pool area also feature materials that will aid acoustics, which will ensure swimming coaches do not have to shout. Facilities at the centre, which has been built on the site of the town's former leisure centre, also include changing areas, activity rooms available for a range of courses and a café.

BDBC's executive member for leisure and culture, Michael Law-Riding, said: "Local people deserve this brand new sport and leisure centre, which will benefit the whole borough. And as well as providing this superb facility, we are supporting the local economy and regeneration of Darwen town centre. "It's been completed on schedule and within budget and is one of the best sports and leisure centres in the area. I am confident it will be very well used by people from the borough and beyond."

The council has worked in partnership with London-based Capita Symonds on the scheme, which has provided design and project management services. Cambridge-based architects Saunders Boston were also involved.