A NEW £13.5million leisure centre will be open by spring 2015, council bosses hope.

The sports and swimming complex will replace the existing sports department building at Blackburn College and the council-owned Waves swimming pool.

Work is expected to begin on the site in November after Blackburn with Darwen Council planners approved the development.

The facility will include a six-lane pool, learner pool, two sports halls, gym, aerobics studio, wet and dry changing facilities, offices, plus a new coach drop-off point off Feilden Street and pedestrian access.

It will be built on the edge of the college campus next to Feilden Street multi-storey car park.

The 26-year-old Waves complex will be demolished once work on the new pool is completed.

Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for leisure Damian Talbot said: “This is a huge investment in leisure facilities for the borough. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the college.

“The facilities will be vastly improved, modern and cost-effective as we will share the running costs.

“The facilities will be amazing, combining both fun and exercise with the new pool, and sports facilities.

“We hope ground work will begin in November and we are looking for the development to be up and running by spring 2015.”

Wendy Simms, director of academic studies and student support at Blackburn College said: “The new leisure centre will benefit not only our students but everyone in East Lancashire.

“We will have the best facilities for our sports students to enable them to excel, while outside of college hours the facilities can all be used by the whole community.

“The development will also continue to transform the centre of Blackburn, as Blackburn College, along with partners and other institutions, continue to invest in new modern buildings to help the town thrive.

“In the meantime, our students have access to the fantastic facilities at Blackburn Youth Zone while the new leisure centre is being built.”