Plans for a new leisure centre and swimming pool have been approved six years after the closure of its "much loved" historic baths.

Residents in Marple lost their swimming facilities in 2018 when the former Marple Baths closed after falling into a state of disrepair.

The cost of refurbishing the building was thought to be too much at the time, and plans were made to build a new site - Marple Community Hub.

The £20 million centre has been given the green light after receiving unanimous support from Stockport council's planning committee at a town hall meeting on 15 August.

The new community hub will give the town a 25-metre, five-lane swimming pool, with a spectator seating area and a changing village, as well as a 60-station fitness suite and two multipurpose fitness studios.

The new community hub will feature a five-lane swimming pool (Image - Stockport Council)

It includes a replacement library and health clinic facility, a community room, cafe, and meeting spaces.

The development was awarded funding through the former government's 'levelling up fund' in March 2023.

According to Marple's Local History Society, the former Marple Baths opened in 1931 and the building was also used as a dance hall over winter when the pool was drained.

Cllr Steve Gribbon, who represents the Marple North ward, said Marple Baths was a "pivotal part of the community for many years."

"It was a huge part of people's lives, their children and grandchildren were taught to swim there.

"My eldest son learned to swim there and that's the case for others in generations gone by."

The former Marple Baths buidling (Image via Stockport Council)

Cllr Gribbon added: "While it was a brilliant facility right in the heart of the community, it was not really fit for purpose.

"We are now looking to progress for the future. This [new community hub] is continuing a thread of the original gift, but not forgetting what the old site was."

He added that a plaque from the original baths will be installed in the new site, to secure a connection between the two buildings.

Cllr Geoff Abell, who also represents the Marple North ward, welcomed the new community hub and said he is "very much looking forward to it being built."

He added that Marple Baths was "very much loved" but "would have taken too much to repair."

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