WINCHESTER policymakers met to discuss the progress of the proposed multi-million pound leisure centre.

Councillors and designers came together for an update on the scheme at Garrison Ground at Bar End to replace the ageing River Park Leisure Centre.

Cllr Lisa Griffiths, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said the council envisioned, “a facility for all, from pre-birth to old age, for the able-bodied and the disabled.”

But the meeting heard that the timetable for completing the project could be longer than planned.

A report to the committee stated that there is a danger of ‘project creep’ leading to higher cost, complexity and likely delays.

The council is proposing the new centre be built on the artificial hockey pitch at the site at a cost estimated at £36.3 million.

A planning application is expected early next year with approval in mid-2018.

Building work should start in spring 2019 with completion around autumn 2020.

The centre is proposed to have an eight-lane 50m pool, a 20m teaching pool, 12 badminton courts, 180 fitness station as opposed to 120 at River Park and four squash courts, two studios as well as treatment rooms, hydrotherapy, soft play and a cafe.

A design team has now been appointed with MACE the project managers, Stride Treglown and LA Architects to design the building, Arup as civil and structural engineers and Hoare Lea as building services engineers.

Cllr Jan Warwick, portfolio holder for environment, described the timetable as "ambitious," with Steve Tilbury, the council's corporate director, confirming that he anticipated they could take “significantly longer on planning than what is shown on that timetable.”

Cllr Roger Huxstep asked whether River Park might end up being closed during construction.

Mr Tilbury said: "That is not something that we want to see happen. If we find that there is something which is going to be a big bill on the existing building we will bring that to you to ask what to do.

"The existing building is not going to fall down. The elements of maintenance we will do will keep it running. But every project needs an ambitious finish time.

"We want to avoid significant spending on a building we will replace."

Mr Tilbury also confirmed that further meetings would be taking place to decided what level of performance the 50m pool should meet.

“The difference between the lane width could be of significance in terms of competition," he said.

The new centre's impact on the environment was also a key point of discussion.