A new £6.44m leisure centre, which is currently being built at Forest Fields, Nottingham, has received a £1m grant from Sport England's Free Swimming Capital Modernisation Development Programme (SCMP).

Nottingham City Council (NCC) is behind plans for the new complex, which will replace existing facilities at Noel Street as part of its £18.5m Leisure Centre Transformation Programme to improve sports provision across the city. The funding, which is made available to local authorities across England, is designed to encourage more people to take up swimming by helping to provide modern facilities and to enhance accessibility.

It coincides with the launch of the government's free swimming initiative for people aged between 16 and 60 years old, which will run until 31 March 2011 and aims to increase participation ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new centre, which has been designed by Archial Architects and is being built by ISG Regions, will be situated alongside the Djanogly City Academy and is expected to be completed by April 2010.

David Trimble, NCC's portfolio holder for communities, leisure and culture, said: "The council is truly committed to making Nottingham a healthier city to live in, so we're delighted to have received this support from Sport England for our new pool. "We hope that our younger and older residents will take this excellent opportunity to improve their health and general well-being for free, both at our existing pools and at the new leisure centre when it opens in 2010."