Crown Estate and TH Real Estate is set to invest £70m in Exeter city centre, adding a leisure extension to its existing Princesshay retail development.

Princesshay Leisure will redevelop the bus and coach station, creating 180,000sq ft of new leisure space including a new cinema, restaurants and cafes. The site will be adjacent to a proposed council-led swimming pool and sports facility.

The £20m leisure facility will boast a 25m, eight lane competition pool with seating for 250 spectators, a 20m four lane training pool and a small leisure pool. The pool will have a moveable floor to be fully accessible.

Also included in the plan is a fitness suite, three studios, sauna, steam and relaxation area, a climbing wall, soft play, a creche, seminar rooms, and coffee bar.

Exeter city council is currently looking into pools and leisure facilities around Europe to get ideas for the most cost effective, environmentally-friendly pool. It is looking to use a filtration system rather than chlorinated water. A design team for the swimming pool will be appointed in January.