Southend Borough Council (SBC) has confirmed that a new £13.5m swimming and diving venue at Garon Park will open on 15 November.

Ipswich-based ISG Jackson commenced work on the Archial Architects-designed Southend Swimming and Diving Centre in July last year. Sport England has part-funded the development. Facilities will include a 25m, eight-lane competition pool and a diving pool, which has fixed platforms at 1m, 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m and three springboards; two at 1m and one at 3m.

The new complex also includes a dry-diving training facility with harness and trampolines; 374 tiered seats including 22 wheelchair spaces; and a small fun pool with water slide. Moveable floors have been installed to allow for swimming lessons and exercise classes to take place, in addition to a water agitation and air cushion system.

British Swimming will be using the venue as a training base for the Team GB diving team ahead of the 2012 Games. SBC executive councillor for culture Derek Jarvis said: "This pool is a fantastic sporting and leisure asset and I hope it will provide enjoyment for residents and visitors to the town for decades to come.

"We now have a truly world class swimming and diving arena in Southend - the fact the British diving team intends to use it as an Olympic training base bears testimony to this." The opening of the Southend Swimming and Diving Centre will also see the Warriors Swim Centre close its doors, with staff transferring to the new pool.