Plans submitted for £41m city centre swimming pool

Plans for a new £41m city centre swimming pool have been submitted.

If approved, the leisure centre on the Embankment in Peterborough would also house a gym, cafe, and a family play area.

It would be the city's only public indoor swimming pool, after the Regional Pool on Bishop's Road was knocked down because of structural issues.

The city council said it hoped work would start in early 2027 with the centre expected to open in 2028.

Shabina Qayyum, the authority's Labour leader, said she had told planning officers "we must pull out all the stops to deliver a new leisure centre as quickly as possible".

The city's Labour MP, Andrew Pakes, said the centre "couldn't come sooner".

The blueprints include a 25m (82ft) eight-lane pool, another 20m (65ft) activity pool with a moveable floor, health and wellbeing rooms, and several fitness studios.

Peterborough City Council said it had applied for £20m of government funding towards the project.

The authority would fund the rest of the scheme itself, estimated to be about £21m, it added.

Do you have a story suggestion for Peterborough? Contact us below.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.