A £25million project is under way to redevelop a historic West End swimming pool which has been closed for more than a decade.

Building work began on the Marshall Street baths on Monday, to restore the original Sicilian marble-lined pool and to build a new leisure centre including a gym and sauna, plus 52 new homes, 15 of which will be part of an affordable housing scheme.

The grade II listed building, which has housed public swimming baths since 1852, was put on English Heritage's 'Buildings at risk' register and closed in 1997 for safety reasons.

The building work will be carried out and funded by a group of companies, under the name Marshall Street Regeneration Ltd, but will be owned by Westminster Council when reopened.

Westminster Council's deputy cabinet member for customers and neighbourhoods Cllr Gwyneth Hampson said: "Marshall Street will be the latest in a long line of new and exciting leisure facilities opening across Westminster, and demonstrates the council's commitment to ensuring all our residents have easy access to high quality, modern and affordable centres."