The full cost of the restoration of the historic Health Hydro might be as high as £30m.

Swindon Borough Council cabinet member for heritage, leisure and the town centre Matty Courtliff made the revelation just weeks before planners will be asked to approve changes to be made to the Milton Road building as part of the project's first phase.

That will see improvements made to the plant and the public areas and changing rooms as well as the main pool and will cost £6.5m.

Presenting the report to the growing the economy committee, senior council officer Dave Dewart said: “There are more phases which would see the Turkish baths improved, community health and meeting spaces created and the small pool restored and opened.

“But that full cost is estimated to be possibly as high as £30m. It’s a historic building but it’s very old and it’s not in the best state of repair and it needs a lot of work.”

The plan is that the first phase of restoration will make the hydro a more inviting and welcoming place for visitors, increasing footfall and usage, and bringing in more revenue – and that success will be used to unlock.

Appropriately enough for the place said to be the inspiration for the NHS, Mr Dewart said the council is talking to the NHS about a community health facility.

He said: “It would work alongside the complementary medical practices: sports massage and  acupuncture and hydrotherapy.

“And the NHS would pay market rent so that would be used to keep the whole building sustainable.”

With a planning committee in April expected to decide on the planning application councillors, especially those on both committees, weren’t able to say much about the specific plans.

But Gerry Hannon of the Friends of the Health Hydro said: “We are concerned about some of the designs. We think it’s a bit of a well-intentioned bodge.

“We are a bit concerns about the tension between preserving a heritage building that is important not only to Swindon but to the whole of the UK, and keeping it business-like and sustainable.”

He added: “One thing we’d like to see was an entrance lobby where you’re not greeted by green plastic.”

Coun Courtliff said: “I agree it’s not the most inviting entrance.”

The planning application for the first stage is expected to be decided at the committee meeting on April 11.

If it is approved the centre will close in May and the work is expected to take about 18 months.