BLUEPRINTS for Newport's state-of-the-art £5 million swimming-pool have gone on display to the public this week.

The pool is expected to further enhance the city's growing sporting reputation following the building of the new National Velodrome and the securing of the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor.

Councillors gave the official go-ahead for the new pool in July, and it will be situated at Newport's fast-growing 'sporting village' in Spytty.

The complex is already home to the city's athletics stadium, which doubles up as Newport County's home ground, a tennis centre, and the new velodrome.

An official planning application has now been lodged by Newport city council's head of lifelong learning and leisure with the council's planning department.

The pool will be an extension of the existing tennis centre on the site of the outdoor courts and car parks, which will be relocated.

The 25m-by-17m short-course pool is seen as a long-term replacement for the outdated Maindee Baths, whose future is still undetermined.

Newport had originally made a bid for Wales' new Olympic-size 50-metre pool, but lost out to Swansea.

The plans for the new pool were approved in July by the council cabinet when Glyn Jarvis, member for culture and leisure, said: "It is ideal for Newport and it is important for the city."

The Spytty pool will be used for clubs and competitions and will have 500 tiered seats for spectators, with unisex, cubicled changing-rooms.

The plans for the extension to the sports complex are on public display at entrance two of the Civic Centre until September 27, and written representations can also be made.