PLANS to transform the seafront with a 50-metre swimming pool and business area have been accelerated.

Leaders of the Sea Lanes want to see their project to open a 50-metre National Open Water Swimming Centre in Brighton Madeira Drive brought forward five years, which would mean the development was opened next year.

They had previously been given five-year temporary planning permission for a 25-metre pool, which was planned to be opened in 2020.

They said a successful “summer pop-up” in which the organisation hosted activities including guided sea swims and open water events from its base in Madeira Drive, Brighton, had persuaded them to push on with the project sooner than planned.

This was reinforced by “feedback from the local community”.

Joe McNulty, director at Sea Lanes Brighton said: “We are so grateful to the Brighton community for embracing Sea Lanes Brighton and the summer pop-up activity.

“We have been able to gain a better understanding of the local appetite for future water-based activities and want to bring forward the opening of the 50-metre pool by five years to fulfil the needs of the Brighton people.

“Currently the nearest 50-metre pool to Brighton is more than 20 miles away and we want to change this.

“We are working closely with Brighton and Hove City Council to revise the plans so we can begin the transformation of the seafront and provide much-needed swimming facilities for the local community.”

Sea Lane Brighton’s initial proposals for a 25-metre pool on the seafront were shot down in December last year.

Councillors refused it planning permission after raising concerns over the design of the buildings, the bright colour scheme and the project’s impact on the area’s heritage and ecology.

But, in February this year, the group presented revised plans to the city council’s planning committee.

This time, councillors unanimously approved proposals for a 25-metre pool and the project was given temporary permission for five years.

The Sea Lanes team behind the scheme was praised for responding positively after the earlier application was turned down.

The development is planned for the old Peter Pan amusement site between Madeira Drive and Volk’s Railway, just west of the Yellowave volleyball pitches.

The plans included one and two-storey moveable modular buildings with a first-floor deck, intended to provide events space and a mix of shops, cafés, restaurants and offices.

At the time of the approval, Mr McNulty said that, if it worked commercially, the company would consider building a 50-metre pool.

Following feedback from visitors over the summer, it has been decided that this will be the case and Mr McNulty said that Sea Lanes Brighton will reveal 2020 plans shortly.