Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (NLBC) has approved William Saunders Partnership's designs for a new £12m health and wellbeing centre on a site next to the town's existing Jubilee Pool.

The Newark-based architects were appointed by the council to draw up plans for the new facility, which will boast a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool, a learner pool, an 80-station fitness suite and a health suite. Dance studios, a climbing wall, wet and dry changing facilities and multi-purpose areas also form part of the proposed centre, which is scheduled to open in 2011 and has received the support of NHS North Staffordshire and Sport England.

NLBC cabinet member for culture and active communities, Mary Maxfield, said: "Our design team has tried to make sure that the building's appearance reflects the modern nature of its interior while also fitting in as sympathetically as possible with the edge of town character of the Brunswick Street area." Urban Vision North Staffordshire has also been consulted as part of the scheme, which is now set to be the subject of a full planning application.