PLANS for a new £25million sports centre could be agreed next month and it could be open in just two years, the council leader has revealed.

The huge centre in Bakers Lane, off Epping High Street is set to include a sports hall and squash courts.

The Hemnall Street centre will remain open until the new Bakers Lane site is finished, before being demolished to make way for homes.

Plans for the new centre consist of a six-lane 25 metre swimming pool and a 10 metre by 15 metre teaching pool with lifting floor.

The centre will also boast a 100-station gym, three 40-person studios, a health suite with a spa, sauna and treatment rooms, a soft play area and a small coffee shop - but no sports hall.

The plans are set to be discussed by Epping Forest District Council’s planning committee this month and Tory council leader Chris Whitbread is hopeful it will get the go ahead.

Official papers for the planning meeting are yet to be announced.

He said: “I am hoping at the planning committee in September it will make good progress and go forward. It could be open in between two to three years and I am hoping we see some real progress on this project.

“It’s always been an aspiration to have our own pool in the town and I also think it’s time we had a new sports centre too.

“The current one is outdated and it would be good to have modern facility in the heart of Epping.

“It’s part of the bigger picture with other developments going towards the funding of the plans, including new homes.”

Qualis has amended the plans in line with feedback following an initial consultation in August last year and the firm also held a second consultation in November 2.

Proposals for the Cottis Lane parking site have also been updated, and now feature electric car charging points.

Other proposals include more than 250 homes built around green spaces on the St John’s Road site, the Conder Building and car park at the Civic Offices.

In October, Qualis announced the new leisure centre in Epping will have a sports hall and squash courts after residents and councillors raised issue with the initial proposals for the site.

A socially-distanced public exhibition was also held back in September at St John’s Church, Epping.