Pure Leisure Group, which took over the 240-acre holiday park two years ago, has announced a £9.5m makeover of the park in two phases, with the first expected to be completed next September.

The first half of the work, costing
£5 million, would feature an indoor pool, gym and sauna as well as a 'lazy river' ride, creating around 100 new jobs for people in Northampton.

The second phase would include a new nightclub, bar, amusement arcade and reception area at the holiday park.

A spokesman for Pure Leisure Group said discussions with planners about the proposals and initial drawings were still going on, but they would be applying for planning permission from West Northamptonshire Development Corporation imminently.

He said: "When John Morphet, owner of Pure Leisure Group, purchased Billing Aquadrome a little over two years ago, it was accepted to be in need of a facelift.

"Since then, it has enjoyed extensive upgrading and its vibrancy has long since returned. This latest development is the icing on the cake.

"We are looking at increasing the number of pitches at this stage, and we dramatically expanded the holiday rental fleet over the last couple of years.

"During a credit crisis, everybody wants to go on holiday but are looking for more cost-effective ways of doing it. This will firmly re-establish Billing's position as a leader in the UK domestic holiday market."

The site currently holds 900 caravan pitches, 900 spaces for private caravans, and 70 new rental caravans.