A public consultation has revealed residents’ preferences for new leisure facilities in the Harborne area of Birmingham. Carried out by Capita Symonds, for Birmingham City Council, the exercise revealed that the preferred option is an £11m redevelopment of the Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre on its current site in the west of the city.

The centre’s current facilities include a five-lane, 25-yard (23m) pool, a 28-station gym and a children’s gym. However, the 100 year old building is “not fit for purpose,” according to a council spokesperson: “The designs for the new facility are yet to be confirmed, but the aspirations of the council are to provide a bigger and better leisure centre with more facilities,” she added.

Harborne Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The completion of the feasibility report is an important milestone in the delivery of a new leisure facility. The next step is to put together a strong funding package and ensure the designs meet the council’s vision of providing a leisure complex fit for the 21st century.”

Several other sites were considered for leisure developments including the Martineau Centre, an education centre for the Birmingham Grid for Learning and Harborne Church Farm Golf Course. But the site of Harborne pool provided enough space, in a central location with good public transport links -– it was also the preferred choice of Harborne residents.

Work is expected to begin on site in 2010 and be completed by 2012.