Designs for a community swimming pool in North Belfast will be released to the public early next year, it has been announced.
The new leisure facility at Girdwood is part of Belfast City Council's £105m Leisure Transformation Programme and an update on the final element of the programme was heard on Friday.
A spokesperson for the council told Belfast Live that while a number of options are being considered for the new facility, all of which include a community swimming pool.
He added: "We plan to unveil concept designs to the public early next year to seek their views before design is finalised. Subject to approval of the business case and funding from the Department for Communities, construction will begin in 2022."
North Belfast MP John Finucane told Belfast Live that today's news is a welcomed development for the area.
He said the swimming pool will have a positive impact for local families.
"This is wonderful and welcome news today on the swimming pool at Girdwood from Belfast City Council for the North Belfast community," the Sinn Féin MP added.
"Well done to everyone involved for their persistence in working to get this long awaited facility to the area.
"I understand that consultancy and design teams will be in place by the end of 2020 and that work will begin on the swimming pool in spring 2022.
"It is vital that through projects such as this the systemic inequalities that have existed in some of North Belfast’s most deprived wards are addressed.
"The addition of a swimming pool to the Girdwood complex will have a positive and transformative impact for local people and will be fully accessible for everyone."
