Plans have been approved to develop a sports and health facility at the University of Strathclyde.

The £33 million Sport, Health and Wellbeing facility will transform the University's facilities in a new, state-of-the-art building on Cathedral Street in the heart of Glasgow.

It will include a six-lane swimming pool, a large gym area and specialist academic space for teaching and research. Construction is scheduled to begin in November, and the building is expected to open in Summer 2018.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal of the University, said: "At Strathclyde, our students and staff are at the heart of everything we do.

"Together, we are creating a first-class facility that will provide health and wellbeing benefits for the University community, as well as improving participation in sport more generally.

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"This new facility is the latest part of our campus transformation, helping us to continue to attract and retain the very best local and global talent. We are delighted Glasgow City Council has supported our plans, and we look forward to opening this exciting new building."

The Sport, Health and Wellbeing facility – and a new Teaching and Learning building, which is in the planning stage – are the latest in a series of new facilities being created at Strathclyde, bringing the University's investment in its campus to over £600 million this decade.

It follows the opening of the University's £89 million Technology and Innovation Centre by the Queen last year.

The new facility will offer competitive sporting services, enabling the University's sports clubs to train and compete at the highest levels, as well as recreation facilities. Enhancements to facilities and services include:

• A 25m, six-lane swimming pool – increasing in size to 320m2

• New sauna and steam rooms, along with four physio consultation rooms offering a range of services including physiotherapy, massage, nutrition consultation

• Fitness suite and conditioning room located on the same floor and increasing in size by 95%

• Increasing the number of cardiovascular stations from 60 to 100 – and doubling the provision of resistance equipment

• Online booking for activities and classes, for members

• Female changing facilities increasing in size by 149% – and male facilities by 97%·Increasing the number of venues for exercise classes from three to seven, allowing the programme more flexibility and potential for growth.

(MH/CD)