The University said the “leading-edge” Sport, Health and Wellbeing centre will transform its current facilities in a new, state-of-the-art building on Cathedral Street in the heart of Glasgow.

It will include a six-lane 25m swimming pool, a large gym area, sauna, steam rooms, four physio consultation rooms and specialist academic space for teaching and research.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal of the University, said: “At Strathclyde, our students and staff are at the heart of everything we do.

“Together, we are creating a first-class facility that will provide health and wellbeing benefits for the University community, as well as improving participation in sport more generally.

“This new facility is the latest part of our campus transformation, helping us to continue to attract and retain the very best local and global talent. We are delighted Glasgow City Council has supported our plans, and we look forward to opening this exciting new building.”

The Sport, Health and Wellbeing facility and a new Teaching and Learning building, which is currently in the planning stage, are the latest in a series of new facilities being created at Strathclyde, bringing the University’s investment in its campus to over £600m this decade.

It follows the opening of the University’s £89m Technology and Innovation Centre by the Queen last year.

The new facility will offer competitive sporting services, enabling the University’s sports clubs to train and compete at the highest levels, as well as recreation facilities.

Construction is scheduled to begin in November, and the building is expected to open in summer 2018.