It is already months behind schedule – but these pictures show how the new £15 million leisure centre in Bilston will certainly make its mark in the town.

The council today unveiled artist impressions of the centre which is set to kick off the next stage of Bilston’s £176 million Urban Village development and create a new landmark in the town.

Work to create the centre was initially meant to start in September but has been delayed by the drawing up of the detailed final plans. The imposing green centre will feature a curved design with rows of floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Official plans have been submitted to create the contemporary structure and, if given the go-ahead, work is expected to start within months.

After months of landscaping and roadworks on the land, which is off the Black Country Route between Morrisons supermarket and Bilston High School, the creation of the centre will mark the start of construction on the 100-acre urban village site.

The centre will replace the council’s current leisure facility in Prouds Lane and feature a 25m eight-lane swimming pool, teaching pool, health and fitness suite, four squash courts, wet and dry changing rooms and meeting rooms. It will also create 33 full-time jobs.

Bilston councillor Bert Turner said: “It is fantastic news that this project is going forward. Nothing is too good for the people of Bilston.”

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

The urban village will also include 1,000 homes, a new academy for Parkfield High, a plaza, shops and a cafe.Seven High Street properties, thought to be around 100 years old, are set to be knocked down and replaced with a tree-lined boulevard linking the development to the town.

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

The plans have been submitted as proposals for the £12m transformation of nearby Bilston Town Football Club forges ahead.

Proposals for a 70-bedroom hotel complex at the Queen Street football ground, named the Stadium Hotel, are expected to be submitted in weeks.