The council has exchanged contracts to purchase the Aldi food store at Eagle Street/Manchester Street.

The site will become home to a new facility which will include a 25-metre, eight-lane swimming pool; a learner pool; fitness gym; four court sports hall; an indoor bowling hall plus two dance/exercise studios and a café.

The existing property will quickly be demolished once vacated later this year when Aldi moves into a bigger store at Chadderton Way.

The new leisure facility will replace the existing Oldham Sports Centre and be ready by 2014.

Willmott Dixon has also won the tender race to build a £6m leisure centre in Royton following its successful delivery of a series of academy projects across Oldham.

Anthony Dillon, Willmott Dixon’s Managing Director, Northern Region, said: “We are delighted to be working with Oldham Council to deliver this fantastic facility that the whole community can benefit from and contribute to the on-going regeneration of the town.”

“As with the academies projects we will be working closely with the Council to ensure the maximum economic impact for the people and businesses of Oldham.”