October 28 - The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has invested the last £8 million installment to construct Manchester's £19 million National Indoor BMX Centre, which is expected to draw more than 120, 000 users per year and will be the first covered venue in the UK.

Manchester City Council's had already £8.55 million and £3 million came from Sport England.

The new centre will be built in Sportcity, in the east of Manchester, alongside many venues including the Regional Athletics Arena, National Squash Centre, Regional Tennis Centre, Manchester Velodrome, and the English Institute of Sport North West Support Centre.

It will consist of a 165,000 sq ft building comprising of a 100 metre by 70m cycling track.

There will be room for 2,000 spectators, office accommodation for British Cycling, and a café.

Work is due to start at the beginning of next year with completion in 2011.

The opening of the BMX Centre will safeguard over 140 jobs already based in the city, and British Cycling will provide 50 additional jobs within the centre – making British Cycling one of East Manchester’s major employers.

Ian Drake, British Cycling's chief executive, said: "The National Indoor BMX Centre will be a fantastic venue for the GB Cycling Team and will aid our preparations for London 2012.

"As a community facility, it will also offer local youngsters a rare opportunity to train alongside British BMX stars, inspiring future generations of riders and growing the discipline at grass roots.

"In addition, the purpose built office in the middle of the two facilities will provide plenty of space to accommodate our growing team and allow the GB Cycling Team to optimise the space within the Velodrome for elite performance."

The centre is expected to host up to 12 events per year, including UCI Supercross BMX World Cup.

Eddie Smith, the chief executive of New East Manchester, said: "The arena will be the centre piece of a new Velopark offering a full range of cycling disciplines for both elite athletes and the community,

"It will further enhance the City’s cultural and sporting offer, attributes that are vital for Manchester to excel on the global stage."

NWDA’s chief executive Steven Broomhead said that the Centre will "bring yet another world class sporting venue to East Manchester which will create new job opportunities for local residents and enhance Sportcity's reputation as an international destination for sports events."