Plans for the project, set to incorporate a swimming pool, a multi-storey car park and retail unit, were lodged by the city council last week.

The detailed application features an artist’s impression of the proposed site, including a leaf-shaped roof on the swimming pool and a 500-space car park.

The proposals will go before the development quality committee within the next few months.

The site for the planned development is the northern part of the Allan Street surface-level car park.

With an expected cost of around £22 million, the proposed leisure centre should be open to the public in 2011, if the plans are approved.

The centre will feature a family pool, dive area, flumes, rapid river, fitness suite and cafe, as well as an Olympic-sized main pool.

In addition, a multi-storey car park would be constructed at the expected cost of £7.35 million.

The centre will also incorporate a retail unit on the ground floor.

The project, first revealed almost exactly a year ago, will result in the ageing Olympia Centre being demolished to make way for the continuing redevelopment of the city’s central waterfront.

The location of the new leisure complex has provoked some concerns, with some pointing out the development will be situated in an already congested area of the city, which is often surrounded at peak times by slow-moving traffic.

However, the transport report submitted as part of the planning application makes several recommendations to tackle the volume of traffic in the area.

These include making the building more accessible to cyclists, pedestrians and bus users by improving existing footpaths, installing a new signalised pedestrian crossing and taking advantage of the existing bus service.

Construction of the centre and car park is set to be carried out in tandem if planning permission is granted.