A DEAL has been sealed on the building of a new £10.5 million swimming pool for Worcester - with a county firm landing the contract.

Speller Metcalfe, based in Malvern, has been revealed as the company that will build the eight-lane facility at Perdiswell.

As your Worcester News revealed in September construction will now get underway before the end of the year, with the aim of opening it in early 2017 in a new purpose-built extension to Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

The firm managed to beat off competition from eight other builders to land the deal with the city council.

Councillor Mike Johnson, the cabinet member for sport, leisure and retail, said: "Speller Metcalfe have a very good reputation for leisure contracts and they submitted an exceptionally strong bid.

"I'm pleased we have been able to award a local company with this important contract for the largest capital investment in Worcester council in recent times.

"I'm confident that they will deliver a pool and improved leisure centre which Worcester residents and visitors will be enjoying for many years to come."

James Speller, director of strategic development at Speller Metcalfe, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be a part of the Perdiswell Leisure Centre scheme, which will have a positive impact for existing customers but also attract new users into the area to take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities.

"As a local building contractor, this will also provide opportunities for employment within Worcestershire, allowing us to support the local economy by using local suppliers and sub-contractors for the project."

The council finally approved the building of the new pool last month after two years of work and deliberations.

The new facility will accomodate swimmers of all abilities and be able to host regional competitions - a first for the city.

The scheme will also include a major refurbishment of the existing leisure centre including new fitness studios, a 120-station gym, a fully refurbished sports hall, cafe and enhanced wheelchair access.

Once open the existing Sansome Walk swimming pool will be closed down and demolished.

We revealed two weeks ago how outside trust Freedom Leisure has won a 10-year contract to manage all the council’s sport and leisure centres from January next year.