Gateshead Leisure Centre, a pre-training camp for London 2012 Olympics near Newcastle Upon Tyne, has closed to undergo a year-long redevelopment project.

The project is led by Gateshead Council as part of its £29m Building an Active Future programme which will also provide new leisure centres in Blaydon and Heworth to replace existing facilities and the redevelopment of two centres in Birtley and Dunston, over the next three years. When complete the Gateshead centre will boast a new spectator and viewing area, a café, a 650sq m gym and changing areas. The existing swimming pool will be refurbished and a teaching pool will be added as well as a poolside sauna and steamroom, two fitness studios and a children's party room.

The Gateshead redevelopment is designed by S&P Architects and the construction work is being undertaken by Wilmott Dixon. Councillor Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council said: "In just over a year Gateshead Leisure Centre will reopen as a superb facility for the people of Gateshead with gleaming new equipment. The fact that the leisure centre has been selected as a potential site for an Olympic training camp in 2012 is a glowing endorsement of the quality of the work that we will be carrying out there.

"We want Gateshead to become an example of an active and healthy society but we recognise that the only way to do that is by creating facilities and opportunities that people want to use. This massive investment by Gateshead Council will go a long way to achieving that aim."