AMBITIOUS plans to develop the south of England’s first ever Olympic sized swimming pool have been submitted by a Bournemouth school.

The LeAF Elite Athlete Academy – home to some of the area’s most promising young sports men and women – has submitted a planning application to build an Olympic size pool on the LeAF Campus.

At 50m long and 10 lanes-wide, it would become the south’s first Olympic-sized pool.

Currently there are only eight such pools in the UK, with the closest one to Bournemouth being in Plymouth – with another four due to open.

If given the go-ahead, and funding secured, LeAF’s swimming pool would be used by its own elite swimmers, students, local swimming clubs and the local community. Executive principal of the Learning and Achievement Federation (LeAF), Dr Annetta Minard, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to carry on the legacy of 2012 and inspire more young people to participate in the sport of swimming in the future.”

It is hoped the pool could be open within the next two years.

Emma Richards of Swim Bournemouth said: “We are very excited about the plans being put forward by the LEAF Academy.”

And Robin Armayan, head coach of Poole Swimming Club, added: “This would be wonderful news for the area.”

The planning application is now with Bournemouth Borough Council and a decision is expected later this year.