Manchester Institute of Health and Performance at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus has been awarded planning approval.
Preparatory work is underway at the £18m sports health and science research facility which will be built next to Manchester City’s new City Football Academy.
PP O’Connor is carrying out the groundworks with expanded delivering piling.
Once completed the centre will develop programmes for elite athletes from the men’s and women’s clubs, British Cycling, GB Disability swimming and GB Taekwondo.
The plan forms part of the Beswick Community Hub, that will transform the area of East Manchester including a new sixth form college and leisure centre.
Cllr Jeff Smith, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, says: “The Beswick community hub will become an incredible resource for both the local community and city’s elite sports men and women.
“The Manchester Institute for Health and Performance is the next phase of these ambitious plans that will take east Manchester from being not only a world renowned centre for sport and leisure, but also a world leader in sport and health science and research.
“Once established, we hope that MIHP will attract world leading clinical and research groups to the city.
The new facility has a completion date in early 2016. The plans were designed by architect AHR.