It is hoped the pool will nurture future swimming stars

The �12m facility is planned for the Wavertree area of the city and will be one of only a handful in the UK.

Councillors are expected to give the green light to the project at a meeting on Friday.

The plan is backed by Olympic medallist Stephen Parry, of Allerton, Liverpool, who travelled 100 miles each day to train before moving to Manchester.

The site for the 50m pool - funded by the council and Sport England - is the Picton Leisure Centre, which closed two years ago because of structural problems.

Stephen Parry is backing the pool

Mike Storey, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "This will be a valuable facility not just for our own elite swimmers, but also the local community including recreational groups, mothers and toddlers and schools.

"It will also be used by up-and-coming junior swimmers who are rising through the ranks and are potential Olympic and Commonwealth medal winners of the future."

The plans also include a 20m and four-lane training pool, 400-seater spectator arena and a refurbishment of the changing facilities.

Stephen Parry, who won a bronze medal in the Athens Olympics butterfly and a silver and bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, currently travels to Stockport to train.

He said he was "thrilled" that the pool looks set to go ahead, adding: "Liverpool has a strong tradition of producing fine sportsmen and women, and the 50m pool will mean the swimming stars of the future will be able to train locally without facing the additional hassle of having to travel in order to train."

If the scheme is approved, it is expected to be finished in 2006.