The new £15 million Tameside Wellness Centre in Denton has been handed over ahead of its official opening next month.

Developer Network Space and construction company Willmott Dixon presented the keys of the new £15 million facility to Tameside Council and Active Tameside, who will manage the centre, on Friday 31 January.

Built on brownfield land next to the new Denton link road, the Pozzoni Architecture-designed facility will include facilities such as swimming pools, ten-pin bowling, fitness suite and thermal area. It includes an eight-lane, 25metre, competition swimming pool with room for 150 spectators and a learner pool; a spa area including sauna, steam and relaxation facilities; a fitness suite; and a ten-pin bowling alley. However, it also boasts a host of wellness features that will benefit the whole community including: meeting rooms, free wi-fi, a children's soft play area, multi-use studio spaces and a social interaction zone.

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The roof space will be transformed into a sensory garden and could also be used for a pop-up cinema, small theatre or open air exercise space.

The Greater Manchester development will open its doors to the public ahead of schedule on 02 March.

This flagship project is part of Tameside Council's £20 million investment into leisure resources to provide some of the best facilities in Greater Manchester that offer varied and fun ways for the whole family to be active. Active Tameside will now complete the fit out over the next few weeks.

Tameside Council Executive Leader Councillor Brenda Warrington said: "I'm delighted with the excellent progress made on constructing Tameside Wellness Centre – Denton, which means our residents will be able to benefit from the wonderful facilities sooner than expected.

"We want to support people in keeping as active and healthy as possible and the centre has something for everyone, from a range of top-class leisure facilities to help stay fit to community spaces and events that will bring everyone together to innovative designs that will make it accessible and creative. I can't wait for the opening when people will be able to make the most of this superb development."

Joe Burnett, development director at Network Space, added: "We are delighted to hand over the Wellness Centre to Tameside Council early. Network Space has worked on the wider project for many years acquiring the land needed to deliver the project, securing essential infrastructure and more recently, facilitating the adjacent housing development.

"Delivering the final piece of the jigsaw, the Tameside Wellness Centre - Denton, is the icing on the cake. The centre is an exceptional facility and we are confident it will have a huge and lasting positive impact on the people of Tameside."

(CM/MH)