A £3m spa complex has been chosen as Reading Council’s preferred choice to be used in the restoration of the Grade II listed King’s Meadow Baths, which has been closed since 1974.

More than £1.25m was needed to restore the lido, which the council did not have the funds for, leaving the site to be offered out on a 250-year lease to tender.

The council chose the spa plans, ahead of four other bids, one of which included turning the lido into a temporary ice rink.

It is thought the new development could include a pool, as well as spa facilities, with those potentially in charge, the Glass Boat Company, responsible for the restoration of a previous derelict Lido in the Clifton area of Bristol.

Other funding was previously being gathered by the King’s Meadow Campaign, however the community group was only able to raise £10,000 after two years.

“The council would need more detail on how the spa plans would impact on parkland surrounding the lido and on whether the pool would be made affordable for local residents to use,” said council leader Jo Lovelock as the proposed development goes for planning approval.

If planning is approved, construction of the facility could begin next spring.