THE Brentwood Centre could be in line for a major revamp which will bring it into the “21st century”.

As part of the plans, Brentwood Council want to install a new eco-friendly roof and changing rooms at the base on Doddinghurst Road.

Council leader Barry Aspinall said rumours of the centre’s demise were “greatly exaggerated”, but admitted it needed to be brought into the 21st century.

Mr Aspinall said: “There was an application previously for a renewable energy roof that was turned down but that won’t be the case in the future.

“Investment is needed, and there is a lot of wasted space within the centre. It needs looking at, it’s 26-years old.

“It was our flagship when it opened years ago, and it now needs help to be reinvigorated to make it that once again.”

Nicky Smith, leisure services manager at the Brentwood Leisure Trust said: “It’s amazing news and is a long time coming. We’ve had renovation in the past but its always been done ourselves.

"We need proper investment in things like the changing rooms and toilets which haven’t really changed since the building opened.

“We apply for funding regularly to Sport England but because we’re in quite an affluent area we struggle to get it. This will bring the facility up to where it should be."

She added: “The swimming pool is the most expensive part of a leisure centre so if we have a solar panelled roof it will help to heat the pool so we can save money on that and investment elsewhere.”

The council now plan to have consultations looking into the renovation work - a time line has yet to be established.