St Helens Council has approved designs produced by architects Pozzoni for a new leisure centre in Merseyside.

The £3.6m project will demolish all but the existing sports hall at Queens Park Leisure Centre to make way for a completely new facility on the same site, considered by the council to be more cost-effective than a full refurbishment of the 118-year-old building.

The new facility will house a five-lane, 25m swimming pool with steam and sauna facilities attached, a two-storey gym, a sports courts and a dry and wet changing village.

The existing sports hall, which is relatively modern compared with the Victorian baths, will be refurbished to provide new fitness studios and a multi-purpose function room, as well as a new café overlooking the swimming pool.

The proposed building design will be on show to the public in the reception area of the leisure centre from 14 July, and the proposals will be discussed at ward committee meetings on 21-22 July.

Martin Bransby, director of Cheshire-based Pozzoni, said: "The high-quality and inclusive design principles employed on this scheme have been used to create a modern facility which will reflect a more contemporary architectural language and, in line with its use, differentiates it from the surrounding 'residential' typology.

"The front façade has been designed to allow maximum visual permeability into the building, which in turn will raise interest and attract users by displaying the centre's facilities through the use of full height glazing.

"Together with its high standard of finish and its rebranding and design, the centre will be redefined as a new focus central to the local community. The facility has been designed to maximise energy and efficiency and where possible has sought to employ sustainable energy principles."

The 13-month construction project will kick off in June.

A private developer plans to build a £1.8m soccer centre, offering third-generation five-a-side and seven-a-side floodlit synthetic pitches, next door to the new leisure facility.

The council also plans to spend £500,000 on regenerating Queens Park, where the complex will be located. The proposals include building a new entrance complete with a water feature, refurbishing the bowling green and tennis courts and creating teenage and toddler play areas. There will also be a general activities space and an off-the-leash dog exercise area with perimeter fencing.