A new leisure, health and social care centre has been given the green light by the government, reports BBC News.

The new Portway Lifestyle Centre is replacing the existing Oldbury Leisure Centre in Birmingham and is set to include specialist facilities to help disabled people. Other facilities include a "four court sports hall, hydrotherapy pool, cafe, sensory garden, climbing wall, dance studio and fitness suite and a full-size artificial grass football pitch."

A spokesperson for the Labour-controlled Sandwell Council said that the centre is due to start in 2013. The council is working with Sandwell Primary Care Trust, Sandwell Local Improvement Trust and Sandwell Leisure Trust to run the initiative.

The new centre could create a plethora of social care jobs for trained staff in the region.

The spokesperson added that the funding comes after a government review of all health and social care building projects using Department of Health money.

The new leisure centre forms just one of four social care PFI projects to receive continued financial support.

Paul Burstow, Care Services Minister, commented on the projects, telling egovmonitor.com: "I'm pleased to be able to confirm funding for these four projects which all promise a fantastic boost to their local communities.''

"These ambitious schemes include plans to build bridges between health and social care. This is key to developing services that fit around peoples lives and deliver personalised care and support."