PLANS to replace a city’s derelict swimming baths with a £70m business school are set to be revealed.

Durham University is going to unveil its proposals for the city’s former swimming baths in Elvet Waterside at an event next month.

It wants to move its business school, currently located in Mill Hill Lane.

Elvet Baths has been disused since 2008, when Freeman’s Quay opened, and it has fallen into a poor state of repair.

Previous plans to redevelop the site for housing and offices were dropped.

Professor Stuart Corbridge, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the university and for the city, so please remember to have your say.

“The proposed development will fully regenerate a derelict brownfield riverside area and provide access to landscaped open spaces.”

The university has not released details of the plans, but says the £70m building will complement the site’s historic features and natural surroundings, and will also include a cafe, which would be open to anyone visiting the riverside area.

Professor Susan Hart, dean of the business school, said: “The proposed state-of-the-art building will provide exceptional facilities not only for our students but also for the local community and business.

“The school is already a centre of entrepreneurship and innovation and this investment will enable us to further drive collaboration and business connectivity for the region and beyond.

“Elvet Waterside will create more capacity for us to continue to inspire globally-focused, ethically-minded business leaders of the future.”

The proposal is planned as part of the university’s ten-year strategy. It wants to increase its student body to 21,500 by 2027 and is planning a range of developments, including replacing its students’ union building in New Elvet, building new colleges and a teaching centre in South Road and new departments in Upper Mountjoy.

Prof Corbridge added: “This exciting development proposal will enable us to enhance our contribution to the local economy, and to deliver on the economic and academic growth priorities set out in the university’s 2017 -2027 strategy.”

A public consultation takes place at Durham Town Hall on Wednesday, March 6 between 1pm and 7pm.