The £26m new Marina Centre will offer a six-lane 25m pool, learner pool with moveable floor, leisure water with fun play features, two water flumes and a splash pad.

The complex will also be equipped with a 100-station health and fitness gym with views to the sea, four-court multi-purpose sports hall, indoor climbing zone.

Following site set-up and groundworks in the coming weeks, piling of the foundations will commence this winter and the steel structure will go up in spring.

Cladding is due to start next summer with the centre scheduled to open in summer 2022.

Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the main political groups, said: “Despite the challenges of coronavirus, which has unavoidably impacted timescales on such a large and complex project, this facility is important to Great Yarmouth’s recovery journey, supporting both economic and physical health.”

Around three-quarters of the project’s supply chain will be drawn from SME companies in Great Yarmouth.

Alister Broadberry, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties area director, said: “We’re committed to delivering outstanding developments that enrich and support our communities and we look forward to working closely with our local supply chain and creating a number of new roles and apprenticeships on this project – leaving a positive lasting legacy within the Great Yarmouth community.”