Bletchley Leisure Centre - a new £21m health and leisure complex near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - has opened to the public.

Bedford-based contractor SDC Builders started construction work on the Holder Mathias Architects-designed centre in April 2008 as part of a wider multi-million pound scheme to improve Bletchley led by Milton Keynes Council (MKC). Facilities at the new Bletchley Leisure Centre, which replaces the town's former complex, include a 780sq m (8,396sq ft), fitness suite equipped with 100 pieces of Matrix Fitness Systems machines and a free weights area.

An eight-lane, 25m swimming pool; a sauna and steamroom; a six-court sports hall; four squash courts and a seven-rink bowls facility also form part of the site, along with a gymnastics hall, a multi-purpose hall and a café. In addition to the new centre, work has been carried out on the public street to create a plaza between Elizabeth Square and the building's entrance as part of the scheme, which has received funding from a range of sources.

The scheme has been funded by section 106 contributions, the MK Tariff initiative and government contributions, as well as match funding from a number of sports agencies, including Sport England. MKC's Paul Sanders said: "This has been a most challenging and rewarding project that has used sport as the key driver for a major regeneration project, providing improved road infrastructure, public realm, car parking, much-needed new homes and, of course, a new Bletchley Leisure Centre."

John Clarke, director at Holder Mathias Architects, added: "The curved structures of he pool hall provides a new visual dynamic on Princes Way, while the design of the leisure centre has been set out to maximise natural daylight and sustainability."