Plans for the construction of a new £6m sports complex in Leicester have been given the go-ahead after the local authority approved the sale of land on Duns Lane to De Montfort University (DMU).

Leicester City Council's (LCC) decision will enable plans for the regeneration of the West End of the city to move forward, with the derelict Bowstring bridge set to be demolished in order to make way for the university's proposed new sports facility. The complex, which will be available for public use as well as DMU students, is set to include a 25m swimming pool, a six-court sports hall, a gym and a fitness suite and will replace the existing John Sandford Sports Centre.

Following the council's decision to approve the sale of land to the university, detailed plans for the new venue are expected to be submitted during 2010, with construction work scheduled to get underway in spring 2011. LCC cabinet member for regeneration, Patrick Kitterick, said: "This will be a major development project to rejuvenate part of the city's West End, which will bring a state-of-the-art sports complex that will be open to the public to use."

A DMU spokesperson added: "This would bring the realisation of the new sports centre and pool, which will be open to the public, one step closer to fruition. This, and our re-landscaping of the land next to the Magazine Building, would provide much needed facilities and an attractive regeneration of this area of the city."