A new £10.8m leisure centre will open in Rochdale next summer, housing an eight-lane 25 metre swimming pool and a 17 metre learner pool with moveable floor.

Facilities also include sauna and steamrooms, two fitness suites, dance studios, and a four-court sports hall.

The new centre is being built next door to Rochdale's existing centre and forms part of an overall capital programme of £33.8m agreed by Rochdale Borough Council in July 2007 - following the launch of Link4Life, the boroughwide Cultural Trust.

The centre, designed by KKA architects, is being project managed by the council's Impact Partnership, and built by Willmott Dixon.

Discussions are underway with existing and potential users of the facilities.

Link4Life's managing director, Craig McAteer, said: "The new centre will greatly extend the range of services provided with the widest pool in the borough, the largest of our four fitness suites and, for the first time, a fully accessible public sports hall available daytime and evening."