Work finally starts on Holt Park 'wellbeing centre'
Work on a £27m "wellbeing centre" for Leeds will finally begin in January, after plans were suspended in 2010.
Leeds City Council has been told the new centre on Holtdale Approach, Holt Park, has been approved by the Treasury.
The centre combines services from council adult social care, youth and sports services and the community.
It is funded by a private finance initiative (PFI) and is planned to be open by next December.
The centre was one of a number of Labour-approved projects put on hold by the coalition government pending financial review in June 2010.
The scheme was then given initial backing to proceed by the Department of Health in April this year.
'Uncertainty for everyone'
The new centre is a replacement for the current Holt Park Leisure Centre.
It will feature a hydrotherapy pool and swimming pool, a cafe, a gym and activity hall.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, the executive member for adult health and social care said the delay caused uncertainty but said the news about the new centre was "wonderful".
She added it would provide a "much-needed" resource in north-west Leeds.
The Department of Health funding covers the building of the new centre, maintenance and cleaning services for a 25-year period.