THESE are the state-of-the-art facilities that will welcome residents for the first time next week as a new £25 million leisure centre opens its doors.

Places Leisure Eastleigh, which is replacing Fleming Park, offers an eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, a gym, ballet studio, squash courts and a soft play area.

There's also an outdoor all-weather pitch, three improved five-a-side pitches and four full-size tennis and netball courts, all of which open on Tuesday (November 28).

The centre is the flagship for the Eastleigh Borough Council's HealthWorks programme aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle across the borough.

Leader of the council, cllr Keith House, said: "We're very excited about the opening of Places Leisure Eastleigh and I know that people across our borough and further afield will be hugely impressed by this superb new venue.

"As well as offering superb facilities, the cost of construction comes at no cost to our council tax payers."

The facility's name was announced in September after Places for People Leisure, the former operators of Fleming Park Leisure Centre, won the licence to manage the new facility for the next 20 years.

Sandra Dodd, CEO of Places for People Leisure, said: "The whole team are extremely excited about opening the doors on Tuesday and welcoming our customers, who we know will be hugely impressed by what we believe is one of the finest leisure centres in the country."

The centre has been designed by AHR Architects Ltd, with the council partnering in the build with Interserve Construction.

Justin Eliott, divisional director at Interserve said: "Working in partnership with the council, the design team and our supply chain, we have gone from green field to new Leisure Centre in 19 months.

"This is a real success story and a great example of what can be achieved when a collaborative approach is adopted across the whole team."

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