Construction work on a new £17.5m swimming pool in Worthing, West Sussex, has moved forward with rigs now on-site to start piling for the Wilkinson Eyre-designed building.

Morgan Sindall has been appointed by Worthing Borough Council (WBC) to build the new facility, which will replace the town's current 1960s Aquarena pool.

Facilities will include a six-lane, 25m competition pool; a combined learning/diving pool; and an indoor leisure pool with flume, as well as a 100-station fitness suite and a studio space.

WBC leader Paul Yallop said: "When [the new facilities] are complete we will have one of the best leisure centres on the south coast."

It is anticipated that the new swimming pool will open in early 2013.