BUILDING work on the city’s ambitious new £10.4million eight-lane swimming pool could start as early as October if planning chiefs give the project a final green light.
Worcester City Council planning chiefs will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to make their decision on the designs for the ambitious extension of Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
The eight-lane 25-metre main pool was given the go ahead last year and will have 250 seats for spectators and a dedicated viewing area for disabled people.
Council chiefs hope the new venue will host regional competitions and suitable for swimmers of all abilities, with a depth ranging from one to two metres.
There would also be an 18metre by 10metre learner pool with a moveable floor, suitable for everyone from toddlers to pensioners.
And the ambitious revamp of the Perdiswell complex would also boast studio space, 120 gym stations and a café.
Once the pool is complete, the existing sports hall will be given a new lease of life with a complete refurbishment.
The long-running saga is now just one length away from completion despite council leader Coun Simon Geraghty’s fears the city council elections on May 7 could slow down progress had there been a shift in power.
But with the Conservative party retaining control following the elections, the project is now set to progess.
The meeting of the city council’s planning committee will determine whether work on the project still has a chance of starting this year.
If so the council is expected to meet in July to appoint a contractor, and it is hoped construction will begin at the Bilford Road site in October and be completed by early 2017.
Coun David Wilkinson, cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “It’s been a long road getting to this point, but the pool that Worcester deserves is almost within touching distance.
“This new pool would be a major enhancement to Worcester’s growing reputation as a vibrant sporting city.”
The existing swimming pool at Sansome Walk will continue to operate until the new Perdiswell pool is completed.
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