THIS is the new multi-milion pound sports centre being built in Worcester.

The state-of-the-art leisure centre is being provided in St John's by Sainsbury in return for permission to demolish the exisiting one and replace it with a superstore.

Plans now on public view show the new centre includes a two-storey gym with 60 pieces of equipment, a dance studio, a fitness consultation room, giant sports hall, large reception area, crèche.

The sports hall will be slightly larger to accommodate league netball and there will be double-size outdoor flood-lit synthetic football pitches. The centre will also have its own car park.

The new facilities will be used by the public and children from Christopher Whitehead Language College next door.

But pupils will have separate changing facilities from the public.

The plans for the site, in Malvern Road, were put before Worcester City Council's cabinet and were welcomed.

The finalised designs must go before the authority's planning committee at the end of September.

At the cabinet meeting, leader of the council, Simon Geraghty, said: "This is a fit for purpose fitness centre.

"It is a really great facility for St John's and a much needed improvement for the area."

Coun David Tibbutt said comments received about the plans, which have been on public display at the existing St John's Sport Centre for six weeks, had been "favourable".

He said squash courts had not been included in the plans because of a decline in demand.

The complex is part of a £6.6 million redevelopment scheme by supermarket giant Sainsbury's, as previously revealed in your Worcester News.

The company will fund the new sports centre, which will be transferred to the council and the existing fitness complex in Swanpool Walk will be demolished to make way for the new store.

Coun Barry Mackenzie-Williams said the development would show the council's commitment to the people of St John's and the west side of Worcester, which he described as an area sometimes regarded as a "poor relation" to the city.