Planning consent has been granted for the new Dover Leisure Centre.

Dover District Council today said that permission was given through officers' delegated powers.

It says that the final go-ahead for the £26 million centre at Whitfield will be considered at a special cabinet meeting on Monday, September 11.

The facility will be for the whole district.

It will feature a competition standard eight-lane swimming pool with spectator seating for 250 people and learner pool with a moveable floor.

There will also be a four-court sports hall, squash courts, multi-function room, fitness gym, fitness studios, clip and climb wall and a café.

The plans also include two outdoor artificial pitches for five-a-side football and there will be a minimum of 250 parking spaces.

The new sports centre, due to open in early 2019, is on a 2.1 hectare site near Honeywood Parkway and is being funded by the district council.

It replaces the existing 1970s-built one at Townwall Street, Dover, which will be demolished.

That building is now considered to be too expensive to maintain long-term.