PROPOSALS for a new Crewe Lifestyle Centre have moved forward after the borough council announced they would seek planning permission for the facility in the New Year.

Cheshire East aim to construct the centre on the area around the Christchurch car parks.

Leader of the Council, Michael Jones, said the new site had undergone investigations for its suitability.

He said: “Finding this proposed site is a major step forward and we can now begin to consider submitting a planning application to see if this is possible.

“The planning process will have to take into account a number of factors, including highways.

“We want local people to be fully engaged with what’s going on and that’s why I’ve proposed to have an engagement process where people can make suggestions and say what they think about the proposals. We will also be working closely with local members.”

The proposed site aims to what combat health inequalities in areas of Crewe that mean many people die a whole decade earlier compared to other areas in the borough.

A series of public engagement workshops will be launched in the New Year to allow members of the public to have their say on the proposals before planning permission is sought in late January.

The proposed centre will house an eight -lane 25metre pool, plus a large teaching pool, sports courts, state-of-the-art fitness suites, new library facilities, and children and adult social care services.

A previous Lifestyle Centre proposal abandoned by the council included the construction of an Olympic sized swimming pool on a site around the Cumberland Arena athletics track in Thomas Street.

An artist’s impressions of the project will be available for the public to view at Crewe Library from December 19.