IT LOOKS as though Lancaster's crumbling Kingsway site will be transformed into houses, offices or shops.

Five big developers have put their multi-million pound plans on the table but none include any leisure facilities for the former swimming baths site.

As the northern gateway to the city, councillors are looking for a prestigious scheme that will help improve the city's profile.

Any development of the site will be complicated by the fact that the Coach House and Kingsway baths are both listed buildings.

Five companies have submitted proposals which were discussed for the first time by councillors at a closed meeting on Tuesday night.

One of these companies bidding for the tender is Chelverton Properties, who secured the previous tender two years ago but failed to submit detailed plans before the deadline - losing their substantial deposit.

There had been hopes that at least one of the developers would include leisure facilities in their plans for the key site, in particular a roller skating rink.

But all the tenders are a mix of either offices, houses or shops.

It is now up to councillors to decide which company to choose and they are very keen to ensure the deal doesn't break down again.

One councillor said: "It's disappointing that there isn't anything in any of the proposals likely to excite the local community.

It's going to be offices or houses or shops or a mix of these.

"We have to be careful that there's not too many shops because it could badly affect the city's retail centre but the main thing is striking a deal and getting the derelict Kingsway site looking half decent to people coming into the city."