A NEW £12 million tennis complex is to get off the ground in Southampton later this year.

Work is expected to begin before the end of the year on a public and private tennis and fitness complex at Lordshill, which will result in the city's first-ever purpose-built indoor tennis facility.

A strong focus is to be put on the development of young players from all classes, with a variety of schemes on offer which could see future champions rising to dizzy heights through constant encouragement.

They include reduced prices for youngsters, school use, outreach schemes, taster sessions, junior clubs, coaching and holiday schemes.

The result should help to make the city a recognised centre of sporting excellence, members of Southampton City Council's leisure services committee will hear when it meets on Thursday.

The public/private sector scheme has been put together by the City Council and David Lloyd Leisure for the site at the former Matchpoint Tennis Centre, at Lordshill.

The public indoor tennis initiative will include six indoor tennis courts, four outdoor courts, a viewing gallery, changing facilities and an on-site Regional Lawn Tennis Association Development Office.

Also to be established will be a David Lloyd Leisure private tennis and fitness centre to include five indoor courts, four badminton courts, three squash courts, an indoor swimming pool and one outdoor pool, a restaurant/bar/lounge, a fitness gym and aerobics studio, changing rooms and offices. Both facilities will share a creche, bar/restaurant, shop, health and beauty services and car parking.

Council officer Tina Dyer-Slade, who prepared the report, said: "In recent years the lack of publicly accessible indoor tennis facilities in the city has prompted discussion between the Lawn Tennis Association and the city council to explore how such facilities could be provided for the benefit of local people."

The council is set to get a £500,000 grant from the British Tennis Foundation to help fund the project. David Lloyd Leisure will build- the £2.6 million public centre and the £8.6 million private centre.

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