Derby City Council to agree Pride Park velodrome plan

The arena will have 12 courts with a cycling track around the edge

A velodrome and sports arena could be built at Derby's Pride Park as part of a £50m revamp of the city's leisure facilities.

Derby City Council's Cabinet will be asked to approve plans to build the arena on the park-and-ride car park it owns at Pride Park.

The arena, with a 12-court sports hall and 250m cycle track, will be used as a 4,000 seat concert hall.

The Cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the plans.

The council has also identified two potential sites for a new swimming complex in the city.

Discussions with the owners of the Riverlights leisure site and former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site are ongoing with a final decision expected in June 2011.

'Sporting map'

The swimming complex is expected to include a 50m pool with floating floor, a fun pool and a training pool.

It will replace Derby's Queen Street baths, which are more than 70 years old.

Construction of the Pride Park sports arena is due to begin in June 2012 and will be completed within two years.

Councillor Alan Grimadell, Derby City Council Member for Leisure and Culture, said: "The development of the leisure strategy will place Derby firmly on the sporting map and will provide residents with new and modern facilities to be proud of.

"Our existing facilities have served us well for a number of years but are now in poor condition with a maintenance bill that would run to many millions of pounds."