AN OUTSIDE backer has been found to help fund some of Worcester's new £10.4 million swimming pool - with the Heart of Worcestershire College promising a six-figure cash injection.

Your Worcester News can reveal how college chiefs have agreed to hand over £300,000 for the ambitious eight-lane project after calling it "very exciting".

It comes as the city council's Conservative cabinet met up to discuss the latest progress on the Perdiswell scheme - and revealed construction will start in October if planning approval can be secured this summer.

After months of talks, the council has agreed to develop a facility for college students inside the new pool, including teaching space and studio room.

On that basis, bosses at the college have agreed to offer the £300,000, saying they are excited about its "state of the art" potential.

A college spokesman said: "We are very excited to see this project moving forward in the right direction.

"The development at Perdiswell will provide modern, accessible facilities that will benefit young people, sports clubs, community groups and the wider community.

"We fully support collaborative projects and by working closely with our partners such as the city council, we are all able to provide facilities that are both state-of-the- art and value for money."

During the cabinet meeting Councillor David Wilkinson, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "It really is capturing the imagination, essentially we are on time and on budget with this.

"All being well, I hope that we can secure all the financial contributions by July and construction could start in October, with the target being completion by the end of next year."

Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader and cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: "This is the largest investment this council has made for many, many years and I'm delighted to see it progressing.

"The people of Worcester can look forward to a 21st century pool rather than the tired old one we've got now."

Two members of the opposition Labour group were also at the meeting, and asked if there was any "plan B" if it doesn't come off.

Cllr Wilkinson said he saw "no reason whatsoever" why the timescale will not be achieved, with the only potential risk a "change of heart" by whichever political party runs the council after May.

The planning application includes a 25-metre eight lane pool, a learner pool with a moveable floor, a gym, cafe, grandly titled 'changing village', spectator area, office and storage space and 415 parking spaces.

Under the plan the existing leisure centre in Perdiswell will be completely revamped and transformed, at which point the current pool in Sansome Walk will be sold and demolished.

People can have their say over up until Tuesday, March 31 by visiting worcester.gov.uk and searching for planning application reference P15M0061.