BUILDING work on the new Selby Leisure Centre has started to take shape, with a metal framework for the new development in place on the Scott Road site.

Work started on the site at the beginning of this year, and just over two years after a massive fire which destroyed the Abbey Leisure Centre, the £6m replacement centre is progressing with a 120-tonne steel frame now in place.

The new centre, which will include a six-lane 25-metre competition swimming pool, a learner pool, a studio gym, steam rooms and a sauna, and an outside all-weather pitch, has been funded in part by a £2m grant from Sport England, and is expected to be open to the public by the beginning of 2015.

David Price, business unit director from Wates Construction in Yorkshire, said the crew would soon start excavating the competition swimming pool, which will take three weeks to hollow out.

Mr Price said: "Work at the new Selby Leisure Centre is progressing as efficiently as hoped and the local community are now able to see this exciting new development begin to take shape. We have an excellent site team in place delivering the scheme and we are fully on track to reach completion on time and on budget at the beginning of next year.”