A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction work at the new £24m National Indoor BMX Centre at Sportcity, Manchester.

Together with Manchester Velodrome, the 110,000sq ft (10,219sq m) venue will form part of the National Cycling Centre and is set to boast a 2,000-seat BMX area and new headquarters for the British Cycling Federation. British Cycling and Manchester City Council are working in partnership with regeneration agency New East Manchester to deliver the new centre, which has been designed by Ellis Williams Architects.

Hertfordshire-based contractor Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed to build the venue, which is scheduled to be completed by April 2011 and will provide the UK's first purpose-built indoor BMX track. More than £8.5m has been invested in the scheme by MCC, while £8m has been provided by the Northwest Regional Development Agency. A further £3m has been contributed by Sport England.

British Cycling chief executive Ian Drake said: "As a community facility, the centre will also offer local young people and adults an opportunity to train alongside British BMX stars, inspiring future generations of riders and growing the discipline at the grass roots." New East Manchester chief executive Eddie Smith added: "The national indoor BMX centre will sit beside the Manchester Velodrome and a new velopark offering a full range of cycling disciplines for both elite athletes and the community

Meanwhile, a £5m joint-funding package has been provided by the Homes and Communities Agency and the European Regional Development Fund towards public realm work surrounding the National Cycling Centre. Funding will be used to provide new cycle and footpaths linking the new and existing developments at Sportcity, a footbridge over the Ashton Canal and open public spaces.