Details of a new £5m leisure centre planned for Minsthorpe in West Yorkshire have been made public by Wakefield Council.

The new facility – to be built on the site of the former Minsthorpe Swimming pool – will house a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, alongside a 50-station health and fitness suite and group exercise spaces. Pool-side seating and a viewing area is also being planned.

The centre will be funded entirely by the council, which is currently working with consultants and architects to develop the plans. A public consultation has now also been launched to gauge residents’ views on the proposals.

"This is a very important and exciting project for the people of the south east of Yorkshire,” said councillor Les Shaw, cabinet member for leisure and sport at Wakefield Council.

“We want to ensure that we get it right for residents and are asking them to look at the proposals and share their views with us.”

After the consultation a full planning application will be submitted in the autumn.

If approved, construction work is expected to begin in the new year with an opening date planned for 2018.