The Council's Planning Committee met to discuss the proposal and approved the scheme which is set to cost around £60 million ($79 million/€70 million).

The facility, which will be built in the district of Smethwick and be named the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, is set to boast a dry-dive area, a 108-station gym, three activity studios and a women's only gym, as well as an Olympic-sized 50 metre swimming pool and changing facilities.

A 1,000 permanent spectator seats will also be built beside the pool, while there are plans for a further 4,000 temporary seats to be erected during the Commonwealth Games in the English city in three years' time.

In a post on Twitter, Sandwell Council called the decision "exciting news".

The plans were approved despite various groups, most notably the police, objecting.

The police had previously raised concerns regarding the apparent lack of "secure design principles and anti-terrorism measures", while according to local newspaper the Express and Star, more than 200 people signed a petition against the proposal.

The "Save Londonderry Playing Fields" group wants to preserve the green space where the facility is set to be built.

However, with the plans now approved by the Planning Committee, they will now go before the full Sandwell Council in April to be ratified.

The Centre has been designed by architects Roberts Limbrick, who also worked on the Wales National Pool.

In a tweet of their own, Birmingham 2022 called the Council's decision "fabulous news".