Plan for £10m replacement of Lichfield leisure centre

The new facility will be built at Stychbrook Park, Lichfield, if plans are approved

A planning application has been submitted to build a new £10m leisure centre in Lichfield to replace an ageing facility.

The Friary Grange centre on Eastern Avenue was run down and, despite repairs, was nearing the end of its working life, the city council said.

Land at Stychbrook Park has been earmarked for a new centre, which would include a 25m pool and a gym.

If approved, the council said it wanted to build by the end of 2024.

Under proposals, the new centre would also include spin and dance studios, a community room, outdoor 3G pitch and a children's play area.

The pool would be built above ground level as doing so would be more affordable than the traditional method of excavating for it, the council said.

The authority agreed last year to appropriate the public open space at Stychbrook Park.

Deputy leader, Andy Smith, said the authority wanted the replacement centre as it knew "how important good leisure facilities are to the district's residents".

A bid for Levelling Up funding from the government was not successful and the council said in January it would fund the project itself.