WORKS have begun on Coventry’s new Olympic-sized swimming pool at the Alan Higgs Centre.
Coventry City Council says the 50 metre pool is being built by construction company Galiford Try and work will take about 18 months to complete at the centre on Allard Way.
It is estimated the eight lane pool will be delivered in time for the autumn of Coventry’s year as the European City of Sport 2019.
Work has also begun on an indoor football facility.
The council is claiming the new development once completed will be similar to a ‘sports village’.
There will be 520 spectator seats alongside a number of new leisure facilities.
These include a health suite, spin studio and a 100 station fitness suite.
Councillor Kamran Caan, the council’s cabinet member for public health and sport, said: “I’m really pleased to see building work starting on our new state-of-the-art 50 metre pool in the east of the city, the only remaining area of Coventry that doesn’t have a community pool following our commitment to provide exactly that for the city.
“This new pool will complement our other swimming pools at Centre AT7 and Xcel Leisure Centre – and it’s set to open during our year as European City of Sport 2019, so we’ll have even more reason to celebrate.
“It will also complement the water park perfectly – and it means recreational swimmers or future swimming stars will all be able to find the right set up for them here in Coventry.
“With investment in just about every area of the Alan Higgs Centre and such a strong mix of top quality facilities for a range of sports it really will feel like a sports village – for fun and sporting excellence.”
The pool will have a movable floor, making it ideal for both swimming lessons and sporting events.
Jo Deakins, club programme manager at the City of Coventry Swimming club, said: “It’s great news to hear that work has started.
“It has been exciting to work with the council and partners to secure the provision of a 50 metre pool within Coventry and to see the positive vision the council has for swimming activities and sport in general for the city.
“The pool will create a great environment for Coventry swimmers to reach their full potential, whatever they strive to do.”
The council added existing facilities will also be refreshed including investment into the changing facilities and café.
The centre’s existing conferencing facilities are also due for refurbishment and extension.
