Worthing Borough Council (WBC) has announced that designs put forward by London-based architects Wilkinson Eyre have been selected for a new £17m swimming complex in Worthing, West Sussex.

More than 100 expressions of interests were submitted as part of a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) design competition for the proposed venue, which is set to provide the town with a new landmark building and will replace the outdated 1960s Aquarena facility. A total of six firms - including Allford Hall Monaghan Morris; Saville Jones; Pringle Richards Sharratt; and Ian Simpson Architects - were shortlisted to prepare concept designs in response to a design brief, before being reduced to a final two - Wilkinson Eyre and Bath-based Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

Plans for the new centre include an eight-lane, 25m swimming pool, a combined learner and diving pool, indoor leisure pools with rapids, flumes and an outdoor water and a health and fitness club, as well as a café, a crèche and a flexible space for other activities. WBC leader Paul Yallop said: "After much deliberation the panel was unanimous in selecting the winners whose team displayed great passion for this important building."

The final specification of the proposed facilities will be developed as part of the design and costing process for the complex, which forms part of the council's Active Beach Zone strategy as outlined in a masterplan for the regeneration of Worthing. Image: Wilkinson Eyre