A new leisure centre in Amersham is a step closer to becoming a reality as plans have been officially submitted.

Over the past few months, plans to replace the outdated Chiltern Pools in King George V Road with a new state-of-the-art facility, named the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre, have been showcased to residents across the district.

If they are given the green light, the lifestyle centre will feature a 25-metre pool, gym, café, community centre and library.

The existing buildings on the site – which include Chiltern Pools, Drake Hall, Chiltern Youth Centre and Amersham Library, excluding the annex and Barn Hall, will be replaced with the new centre.

Thousands of residents have already scrutinised the plans and can continue to do so online until January 3.

Chiltern District Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Mike Stannard, Cabinet Member for Support Services, said: “The planning application being submitted is an exciting milestone.

“We had a fantastic response from our public information events during the autumn and were delighted to see that over 86 per cent of people supported the proposals.

“As well as the overwhelming public support, there were some questions and concerns from local residents and that’s why we held the information events asking for feedback which we have now addressed.

“There is a further opportunity for people to express their views during the planning consultation period and I would like to encourage anyone who is interested in the project to do so via the planning portal.”

The proposed Chiltern Lifestyle Centre project will be financed by capital investment, external funding from a range of agencies and turnover from the centre, with the councils saying taxpayers are not expected to bear any additional costs for it.

To view the application, visit https://pa.chilternandsouthbucks.gov.uk/online-applications and enter reference PL/18/4593/RC.