According to project sources the contractor has signed a NEC professional services contract to work up a price for the Michael Sobell Centre redevelopment.

“All being well the building project will then get underway in May or June,” the insider told the Enquirer.

The redevelopment includes a 1,600-pupil secondary school and community leisure complex, which are budgeted to cost around £50m.

The leisure element will include a sports hall, courts and activity studios within the improved sports centre, as well as the proposed eight-lane athletics track and field sports stadium.

Once the project is built the existing Michael Sobell Sports’ Centre, which lends its name to the project, will be demolished.