New pool to have eight lanes

A new leisure centre planned for Bilston will boast an eight-lane swimming pool among other features, it has been revealed today.

More details have emerged about the centre, which council bosses say they hope to start work on next year. The multi-million pound leisure centre is to be built on land off the Black Country Route between Morrison’s supermarket and Bilston High School. It will be part of the flagship first phase of the Bilston Urban Village development.

It will replace the council’s current centre on Prouds Lane.

Wolverhampton City Council spokeswoman Felicity Roberts said today: “Discussions are still ongoing around the design of the building although the proposed centre will have a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool, teaching pool, health and fitness suite, four squash courts, wet and dry changing rooms and meeting rooms.”

The Prouds Lane leisure centre will remain open until the new facility is completed.

Also in the pipeline as part of the first phase is a health centre twice as big as the successful Parkfields Phoenix Centre and Wednesfield Gem Centre.

The £167 million urban village, which will sit on 100 acres of parkland off the Black Country Route, will also include 1,000 homes, a new academy for Parkfield High, a plaza, shops and a cafe.

In December it was revealed seven High Street properties, thought to be around 100 years old, will be knocked down and replaced with a tree-lined boulevard.

The bulk of the village development is targeted to be completed within 10 years and is expected to include allotments, acres of parkland, provision for a new Metro tram stop and pedestrian and cycle networks.

The Express & Star told this month how top names have been shortlisted by council bosses to land the lucrative regeneration contract.

Regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson said a preferred developer would be selected by the summer.