Oldham town centre will be getting a new £15m leisure facility after Oldham Council unveiled its proposals to local residents.

The state-of-the-art Oldham Sports Centre will replace the existing facility in 2015 at the junction of Manchester Street and St Domingo Street. The proposals are subject to planning and have been developed with delivery partner Willmott Dixon.

Cllr Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: "Providing an Olympic legacy for our residents is a big priority for Oldham Council. It is about raising the aspirations of Oldham residents and improving their facilities as well.

"The new Oldham facility would have the correct specifications to attract major regional competitions in some sports. It would also be able to host much larger events than ever before, like Sky Sports boxing, and put us on the national sporting map.

"The swimming pool would also be a major improvement on what we already have, bringing us up to county standard, with enhanced spectator facilities."

The new facility will contain a 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool and separate learner pool, 250 seats spectator gallery, sauna and steam room, wet changing village, an eight-court sports hall, 80-station fitness studio, a spinning studio, two group exercise studios, separate changing facilities for dry sports and fitness suite, four-rink indoor bowls hall, a cafeteria and improved landscaping and public realm works plus a 122-space car park.