BUILDING work is well under way on York's pioneering new tennis centre.

Plans for a new cycle path, connecting the site with the city centre and the west of York, are set to go before councillors later this month.

The centre, which will be run by David Lloyd's Next Generation Clubs, was given the go-ahead last year, after planning wrangles with a nearby respite care home were smoothed over.

Next Generation hopes to complete the centre later in the year and, in the meantime, has submitted plans for a new cycle path to link the building, off Windmill Lane, with the existing cycle route around the University of York.

The proposal would allow people to cycle from the west side of York, across the Millennium Bridge, over Low Moor and up to the tennis centre.

Planners have recommended the plans for approval, and councillors will have the final say later this month.

Discussing the project as a whole, a spokeswoman for Next Generation said: "Everything is proceeding as planned, really, and we would prefer to say more about the project when it is nearing completion later on."

Planned facilities at the centre include 13 tennis courts, including eight indoor courts, two half Olympic length swimming pools (one indoor), a gymnasium and fitness centre, an aerobics studio, three squash courts, three badminton courts, a volleyball court, a netball practice court, a sprint track, a health spa, beauty salon, creche facilities, and a restaurant, bar and lounge area.

Updated: 10:34 Friday, June 07, 2002