A NEW swimming centre for babies and young children could soon open in Renfrew.

Water Babies – a company that teaches tots and toddlers how to swim – is hoping to occupy a vacant unit at the XSite Braehead leisure hub.

Plans have been submitted to Renfrewshire Council in a bid to operate a pool, changing facilities and a shop selling swimming-related goods.

Phil Pritchett, of Pritchett Planning Consultancy, which has submitted the proposals, said the existing unit is “ideally suited” for such a project.

In a letter to the council, he added: “Water Babies is established in a number of countries and operates purpose-built swim centres where a high quality and controlled swim lesson environment can be created which is designed entirely around the baby and toddler to provide a safe and secure environment in which babies can be taught to swim and enjoy the water.

“The existing unit one at XSite is ideally suited to this purpose, being within a well-established leisure based environment which has a mix of leisure units as well as restaurants and shops which complements the Water Babies concept.”

A scheduled opening date, should the company’s plans be approved, has not been included but Mr Pritchett confirmed that Water Babies hopes to be operating at XSite Braehead “in the short term.”

The application will be considered by council planners in due course.