Oldham Council unveiled plans for a new sports centre in Royton this week, which is slated to open in autumn 2015, coinciding with the closure of an existing facility.

The designs include a six lane 25m swimming pool, with a learner pool, an 80-station fitness gym and two dance studios.

A planning application will be submitted next month. Baseline specifications for the new centre were approved in March 2012, but then officers were asked to further consider the potential mix of facilities to provide a lasting Olympic legacy.

Oldham Council leader, Jim McMahon, describes it as: “A fantastic leisure facility that will be fit for future generations.”

Willmott Dixon won the tender to build the facility in October 2012, following its successful delivery of a series of academy schools building projects across Oldham, as well as its track record in the leisure sector.