Development work has begun on the new leisure centre in Cotlandswick, London Colney, to provide a sports hall, gym and nine all-year round 3G artificial football pitches.

The new leisure centre will be the third to be built by St Albans City and District Council in the past three years following Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre and Batchwood Sports Centre.

On Tuesday the council’s cabinet was told that preparatory work had already been completed on the Cotlandswick site with the construction of a new entrance. Construction work on the main building will begin in early August.

The centre will include a 60-station gym, an exercise studio, a single court sports hall, and outdoor and indoor children’s play areas. There will also be eight five-a-side and one seven-a-side 3G synthetic turf pitches, offering all-year round football.

Councillor Annie Brewster, portfolio holder for sports, leisure and heritage, said: "Once built, the leisure centre at Coltandswick will provide a superb facility for the use of the local community. 

"The development is part of the council’s ongoing programme to update its leisure facilities around the district. We have recently built two other fantastic sports facilities at Westminster Lodge and Batchwood."