A new multi-million pound sports centre could be built in Bexhill, East Sussex, after Rother District Council (RDC) agreed to appoint consultants to conduct a feasibility study into the plans.

The new centre, which is to be situated on the town's Down site and could cost up to £18m, will form part of the council's scheme to consolidate the town's two existing leisure facilities into one single site by 2016. Included in the proposals for the new centre is a four-court sports hall, a two-court ancillary hall, a soft play area and a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, as well as a leisure pool, a climbing wall and a 100-station fitness suite.

A health suite, changing areas, a bar, a café and a social area are also earmarked as part of the project, as is an outdoor multi-use games area and a ten-lane ten-pin bowling facility. S&P Architects has already been involved in developing initial plans for a combined wet and dry leisure facility, with two options identified at an anticipated cost of £14m and £18m respectively.

The proposed Bexhill Down site for the new centre is currently occupied by Bexhill High School, which the principle landowner, East Sussex County Council (ESCC), plans to relocate to another site in the town by 2010. However, ESCC is yet to decide whether a Vocational Skills Centre at the Down site is to remain, while RDC will also need to acquire land from the Ministry of Defence, which owns the nearby drill hall.

A council report revealed that the main source of funding for the scheme is likely to come from the relocation of the town's leisure pool at the Ravenside Retail Park if planning restrictions are removed, but it was revealed that RDC would otherwise be unable to fund the project itself. The report also said: "Initial consultation with the Amateur Swimming Association has confirmed that no capital funding is available from the association. It is also unlikely that any major capital funding will be available from Lottery sources until after the conclusion of the London Olympic Games in 2012."