Cllr Ann Lucas, the leader of Coventry City Council, led the ground-breaking work to herald the start of an £7.5 million extension at Centre AT7 in Bell Green Road, Courthouse Green.

The exciting plans involve creating a new 25m swimming pool, a splash leisure pool and racing slides along with a health suite featuring a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. There will also be new-look changing rooms and a revamped reception area. Modifications will be made to existing buildings to create function rooms and offices while there will also be another 216 car-parking spaces at the centre which is owned by Coventry and Warwickshire Award Trust. Willmott Dixon has been appointed as the contractor for the project which is due to be completed in August 2014.

Paul Breed, Chief Executive of Coventry Sports Foundation which manages Centre AT7, said this was a fantastic time in the venue’s history. “Improving Centre AT7 will be of massive benefit to families living in the North-East of Coventry because the swimming facilities will be among the best in the city,” he said. “We already provide high-quality sports facilities but we want to take the next step to complete the leisure mix through the offer of a new and exciting swimming element.” “The combination of having a 25m swimming pool along with a splash pool and slides will mean we will be offering facilities for serious swimmers as well as families with youngsters of all ages wanting to enjoy some fun time in the pool.” “It is great to see that work is underway with the diggers having moved on-site and we look forward to it opening next autumn.”

Cllr Lucas, Leader of Coventry City Council, said: “I'm delighted that work is underway to extend and improve the facilities at Centre AT7. We have been clear that we want to ensure that local people have easy access to excellent, modern sports facilities and that’s what this work is all about. “The new pool will offer fantastic fun for families – I am sure the racing slides will be very popular. Of course this new facility will also bring health benefits and we know that when good facilities are provided there is an increase in the number of people that use them. We have seen this in Canley and Wood End and I am sure that we will see it here too.”