The first images of how a £34 million leisure centre will look have been revealed.

Gravesham council has applied for planning permission to demolish Cascades and the neighbouring bar to build a new centre.

The proposal was submitted last Thursday (December 1) outlining the scheme in Thong Lane, Gravesend, which will replace the existing facilities.

It will include a 25m pool, 17m learner pool, an aqua play and water flume area, poolside steam and sauna, spectator viewing area, a sports hall with six courts and tiered seating, a multi-level soft play zone, a 'clip n climb' zone, party and community rooms and a café, all on the ground floor.

On the first floor, there will be two squash courts, two multi-use studios, a spin bike studio and a 100-station fitness suite,

The plans also outline improvements to the existing play area including an outdoor gym and trim trail, replacing the three redundant tennis courts, landscaping and parking for 257 vehicles.

Planning permission is being sought after the council originally laid out its proposals in January as part of its long-term Sports, Leisure and Active Recreation Strategy.

At a cabinet meeting in November, councillors also decided the construction would adopt a Passivhaus approach, meaning it will be of the highest environmental standards and one of only a few in the country.

The method was recommended by officers as it contributes towards the council’s pledge to become a net zero borough by 2030.

The multi-million pound project plans to "provide new welcoming, exciting spaces with character and purpose", according to the recently-submitted planning statement.

The report added: "The buildings are approaching the end of their useful life and it is becoming no longer financially justifiable to continue to operate and maintain some of them."

The new centre will be built on the existing car park, with Cascades remaining open during construction. It will only be demolished once the new centre is open.

The report also outlined plans to also demolish Regans Bar and Café, although the existing Legends Sports Clubhouse and associated air inflate domes will not be affected.

The application follows a public consultation during which people were invited to say what they would like to see included in the new centre.

Construction is expected to start in June 2023 with completion scheduled by December 2024.

As part of the council’s ambition to be a net zero by 2030, the new centre will aim for the highest environmental performance standards and will be around 13 times more efficient in terms of carbon usage than the existing Cascades, which is the second biggest emitter of carbon in the council’s estate after Gravesend Civic Centre.

Council leader Cllr John Burden said: “These are ambitious plans, both in terms of the provision of high-quality sport and leisure facilities, but also with regard to achieving the highest possible environmental performance standards.

“That has to be set against the fact that doing nothing about replacing the current Cascades would come at enormous cost. It’s an ageing building and maintaining it to the levels required for it to remain open to the public would cost millions of pounds alone over the coming years. And that’s before we look at carrying out any work to reduce its carbon footprint.”

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “A replacement for Cascades is just phase one of our ambition in renewing our sports and leisure offer across the borough.

“It is one of the cornerstones of our Sports, Leisure and Active Recreation Strategy to tackle the health inequalities that are so evident in our area and ensure we have an offer for our residents and visitors that allows for families and individuals to have fun but also to train and compete in a variety of sports right here in the borough.

“Thank you to all those that have contributed to the consultation.

“We have listened to leisure users and residents of the borough throughout the design of the new centre and will continue to in this next stage, and I hope everyone will be as excited by the centre proposed in this planning application as I am.”

The planning application can be viewed and comments left by clicking here and searching for reference number 20221293.

It is expected to be determined at the March meeting of the council’s planning committee.