Plans to build a new £36m sports centre in Coventry have been unveiled to replace a centre built in 1966 which is haemorrhaging cash – costing around £2,000 per day to keep open.

The replacement venue is expected to be built in Coventry city centre on the current site of the council building Spire House which will be vacated as part of the council move to Friargate.

The 6,500sq m (69,965sq ft) facility will include a water park with slides, a gym, a 25m swimming pool, climbing wall, squash courts and a spa.

The new centre is hoped to be up and running by 2019 and the existing Fairfax facility will remain open until that time.

Coventry Council is running a sports strategy, which will see the body work with sports groups to improve structures and opportunities for people to get involved in sport, with key targets including establishing a Coventry Institute of Sport and to secure a total of £4m of investment into community facilities.