Nottingham City Council has granted permission for the demolition of the city’s former Turkish Baths, built in 1928, to make way for a new link road.

The application for demolition has now been referred to the secretary of state for a decision, with work to start in summer if it is given the go ahead.

The baths are currently vacant but had been part of the Victoria Leisure Centre before its £9m refurbishment completed in 2012 as part of a wider investment in local facilities.

A council spokesman said the council had always planned to demolish the baths as part of the leisure centre refurbishment.

“This part of the old building blocks a route which we are keen to open up between Brook St and Bath St to encourage pedestrian flow and provide the opportunity to strengthen a development site closer to the leisure centre,” he said.

A conservation officer consulted during the application process voiced no opposition to the demolition stating the building was in a state of disrepair and was not of historic or architectural value.