DETAILS have emerged of a £30m-plus housing and leisure scheme for Redcar which includes a £2.5m swimming pool.

Persimmon Homes said that the swimming pool at Coatham Enclosure would be "a substantial size" and could be part of a bigger leisure complex.

As well as building 250 properties of various sizes on the 35-acre site, Persimmon Homes would also commit to helping revitalise the boating lake, the Mungle Jungle children's activity centre and the Redcar Bowl.

The cost of the properties, which will include apartments as well as houses, has not been revealed, but a Persimmon Homes spokesman said they would be in line with other property prices in the town. The scheme is expected to attract up to £30m of investment.

Tees Valley Leisure, a company which runs leisure services on behalf of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, is expected to be in talks with Persimmon Homes in the coming weeks.

A planning application for what has been described as an "urban village" will be filed in the next six months and, if permission is received, building work could start in one year. The swimming pool would be built in the first stage of development.

Jeff Fairburn, managing director of Persimmon Homes North-East, said: "This an exciting opportunity for the area and we are looking forward to working with the local council on this landmark development."

Redcar lost its swimming pool in 1997 when it was closed to because of structural problems.