Knowsley Council has approved plans to build a new £16.1m leisure complex at the site of the St Thomas Becket School in Huyton, Merseyside.

Plans for the centre, to be called Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, include two 25m indoor swimming pools, a six-court sports hall, a health and fitness club, squash courts, dance and exercise studios, a café and spa facilities.

One of the two pools will be built as an eight-lane competition pool with 300 spectator seats.

There will also be extensive conferencing facilities capable of hosting a range of sporting and cultural events, including award ceremonies and art performances.

The investment in the complex is part of the council's larger, £25m Leisure Facilities Strategy.

Work will commence on-site in Spring 2010 and facilities are due to open in Autumn 2011.

Councillor Ron Round, leader of Knowsley Council, said: "These are exciting times and I look forward to work commencing on this major project over the coming months. It has huge benefits in terms of jobs, economic and environmental improvements for now and for future generations."

"As well as physical improvements to the area, the park will provide a perfect opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents."

"We will continue to keep residents informed about next steps and the timescales involved in developing this scheme."

The planning application also included the creation of a separate, £5m OurPlace youth facility, for which a funding application has been submitted to Big Lottery Fund.

OurPlace has been developed in partnership with young people across the borough and will provide them with a range of facilities, including arts spaces, wellbeing services, an outdoor multi use games area and BMX and skateboarding facilities.

These new facilities will be located on the same campus as Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning.