Sandwell's Oldbury Leisure Centre is close its doors to customers in late October ahead of the development of a new £18m complex, which is due for completion by 2013.

When complete, the new Portway Lifestyle Centre will comprise a four-court sports hall; a hydrotherapy pool; a sensory garden; a climbing wall; a dance studio; and a fitness suite. A full-size artificial turf pitch for senior, junior and five-a-side football; a GP surgery; and a café will also form part of the facility, which will offer healthcare alongside leisure services.

The Portway Lifestyle Centre will establish a new centre of excellence, with a specific focus on disabled users. It was one of four projects to receive government funding in April. Sandwell Council, Sandwell Leisure Trust and Sandwell Primary Care Trust are working with Sandwell Local Improvement Trust (LIFTCo) on the development.

Linda Horton, the council's cabinet member for leisure services said: "The lifestyle centre is a new kind of venue, with a particular focus on disabled people. "Oldbury Leisure Centre has served the community well but it is at the end of its useful life and Portway will be a superb replacement."

Demolition work is poised to commence once legal and financial agreemets are complete.