EXETER'S long-awaited new David Lloyd leisure centre is fast nearing completion at Sandy Park.

The Echo was given an exclusive tour of the site as work continues in preparation for the health club's planned opening in December.

Eighty jobs are being created by the £11 million development which has been taking shape alongside the home of the Exeter Chiefs in recent months.

David Lloyd acquired the site back in 2003 but various hold-ups meant the new Exeter club was only given the go-ahead last year.

Construction began in March and is due to be completed at the end of November.

Workers were yesterday laying tiles in the outdoor swimming pool while inside the 65,000sq ft building was a hive of activity.

Corne van Mook, contracts manager at construction firm Pellikaan, said the project was on schedule, with about 45 people working on site.

That number will rise to 70 during the interior decoration phase as the scheme nears completion.

David Lloyd's new Exeter general manager Greg Fanning said the on-site marketing suite had been inundated with inquiries in the four days since it opened.

"We have had over 1,200 inquiries and have already signed up nearly 200 members," he said, adding he aims to have 2,500 signed up by the time the centre opens on December 13.

Local employers including South West Water and accountancy firm Francis Clark have already joined the corporate membership scheme, which gives staff access to discounted rates.

Recruitment of staff for the leisure centre is ongoing and around 400 applications have been received for the 80 vacancies.

"I've been really impressed with the quality of applicants," said Greg, who previously managed the David Lloyd club in Eastbourne.

The Exeter centre is the firm's first new club to open for three years.

"Exeter is a growing city and a developing city with the right demographic and we want to be part of that," said Greg.

"The city has been waiting for something at the premium end of the market and we have been delighted with the amount of enquiries we have received and the rate that they are converting into members."

Facilities on the ground floor of the club will include a restaurant and bar, indoor tennis court, 25m swimming pool, a smaller kids' pool, changing rooms, kids' activity rooms and an exclusive Celsius spa reserved for premium members.

The first floor will feature two more indoor tennis courts, a large gym with 200 pieces of equipment and separate studios for spinning, aerobics and 'holistic' exercise classes.

Outside are five more tennis courts — two of which will be covered by an all-weather 'bubble' — another 25m pool, a children's play area and decked areas for sunbathing.

The club will have its own 250-space car park but sadly for Chiefs fans they won't be allowed to park there when watching matches, even if they are David Lloyd members.