Work has begun on the new £6m Chadderton Health and Wellbeing Centre in Oldham.

The facility, which will be operated by sports trust Oldham Community Leisure, is scheduled to open in spring 2009 and will boast a 25m swimming pool, a 50-station health and fitness suite, a dance studio and community rooms. It will be adjoined to a community library provision and local police resource division.

Chief executive of the trust, Ian Kendall, said: “It was a very sad day for Oldham Community Leisure and Oldham’s people when the pool facilities closed at Chadderton Leisure Centre.

“However, I am delighted to see the works starting on the creation of our new centre which has seen a whole regeneration plan for Oldham leisure facilities.”

Director of business development for the trust, Jamie Lyne added: “The crucial part of the regeneration planning for Oldham leisure facilities is the inclusion of whole life cost modeling and agreed replacement.

“As a leisure operator we should never again be in a position of marginalising leisure assets through a minimum commitment to repairs maintenance standards.”

The swimming pool at Chadderton has been closed for health and safety reasons since August 2006, while the sports hall and gym remained open.