Designs showcase £60m Commonwealth Games Aquatics Centre

Around 1,000 spectators will be able to watch the action in the pool being created for the Birmingham 2022 games.

A 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool and 25m diving pool feature in the facility which will become a leisure centre in Smethwick after the event

Alongside the pools, the centre will boast a dry-dive area which allows people to try competition flips and jumps into a foam pit.

There is also a gym featuring more than 100 pieces of equipment and a separate ladies gym, three studios, an eight-court sports hall, indoor cycling studio, sauna/steam room and café.

The site, at Londonderry Playing Fields, will also include 450 on-site car parking spaces, a football pitch and changing facilities, an improved urban park and children’s play area.

Sandwell Council leader, Councillor Steve Eling, said: “It’s an exciting for us to be hosting a major international event while creating a building that’s going to deliver world-class leisure opportunities for local people.

“We did a public survey with residents last year and it was clear that the Smethwick area desperately needed new leisure facilities.

“We want to get the building’s design and mix of facilities right, so we want Sandwell residents to have their say on the proposals.

“It is a huge honour to be part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games which means we will be able to build an even bigger and better leisure centre for our residents.”

The council is launching a consultation featuring a series of drop-in sessions for people to find out more about the centre ahead of a formal planning application being put forward.

These will be held at St Marks Church, in Thimblemill Road, on December 20 and January 10 from 9am to 5pm and on December 18 and January 8 from 5pm to 8pm with a further session at Dorothy Parkes Centre, Church Road on January 15 from 4pm to 6pm.

Councillor Bill Gavan, cabinet member for leisure and Commonwealth Games said: “We are aiming to build a state-of-the-art facility in Smethwick for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Sandwell residents.

“The pre-planning consultation gives residents the opportunity to give feedback on the design and facility mix which will support the formal planning application in the New Year

“The facility will draw international recognition and will leave a great legacy for Sandwell beyond the 2022 Games.”

John Crabtree, chair of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee added: “The 2022 Commonwealth Games is an event for the whole West Midlands region.

"The Sandwell Aquatics Centre is the only brand new sporting facility planned for the Games and it’s so important that we not only have the best possible swimming and diving facilities to use in the summer of 2022 but the aquatics centre and the whole site will provide the best possible facilities for local people for years to come.

“This consultation is another positive step towards 2022 - sharing ideas with the local community and getting their valuable feedback on exactly what is proposed for this site. If you live in Sandwell, please take this opportunity to have your say on the plans.”

Residents unable to attend the drop-in sessions can also have their say by completing an online survey at sandwell.gov.uk/aquaticscentre