South Hams District Council has earmarked £1m from its capital programme to be put towards a new £2m indoor swimming pool for Ivybridge, Devon.

The council said replacing the current indoor pool and the outdoor pool with a new pool would be the best option, as the existing outdoor pool is now beyond economic repair and the current indoor pool is “nearing the end of its expected life”.

Bill Hitchins, executive lead for Property Services at the council, said: “We are working closely with Tone Leisure, who manage Ivybridge Leisure Centre on our behalf, to produce a business case which will bridge the funding gap.

“The council believes it is important to make this investment pledge to continue to get the best from such a well-used asset but we must make sure that the figures are realistic and that the project is viable.”

The council said the next step will be establishing the business case before tendering any contract, and it is hoped that work could begin on a new pool in 2012.

The indoor pool will remain open as usual, but the outdoor pool will remain closed, due to glass mosaic tiles coming away from the side of the pool, making it unsafe.