Developers have been given the go-ahead to start work on a multi-million pound leisure centre.

Builders will be breaking the ground on the site of Norwood Hall in the next few weeks to start construction on a 25-metre swimming pool, a fitness centre and dance studio.

The £16.5million development, which is supported by NHS Lambeth and developer Building Better Health, will also house a GP and dentist surgery, and a council advice hub.

Plans for the four-storey centre, funded as part of a private finance initiative (PFI), were provisionally approved in September 2009 following support from residents.

Councillor Lib Peck, cabinet member for regeneration at Lambeth Council said: “Local people told us overwhelmingly that they wanted top quality health and fitness facilities on their doorsteps, and we are delivering with this major step forward in the regeneration of West Norwood."

Tessa Jowell, MP for West Norwood and Dulwich, added: “This is a great result for West Norwood and I would like to thank everyone in the local community for their hard work in making this dream a reality.”