The pool which hosted Olympic swimming champions such as Britain’s Adam Peaty and Tom Dean, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Australia’s Emma McKeon, Paralympic champions such as New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe and diving champions such as Britain’s Jack Laugher is having a £73 million ($88 million/€82 million) refit, according to the BBC.

The refit involves removing spectator seating and replacing it with sports halls, changing rooms and other facilities.

Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell Council, said the work would create a "lasting legacy" for the area.

"People can't wait for it to open,” she added.

“The Games well and truly put Sandwell on the map."

Since the Games concluded on August 8 last year workmen have removed 4,000 seats and are building two sports halls, an extra floor, dance studio, steam room and sauna and storage spaces.

The 50-metres pool has also been divided into three areas.

Tony Farnsworth, who is leading the work for the Council, said the original build had been hindered by a series of issues, including COVID-19, Brexit and wet weather, but the rebuild had been "relatively smooth".

He said work was due to finish in mid-July although no date had yet been set for the re-opening.

Liz Wilkins, from Sandwell Aquatics Club, has been allowed a look around the building while the work continues and said it was now "more than just a swimming pool", adding: "It's still got the impression of being massive."

She said it would be "so different" to the existing pools in the area and would allow swimmers who excel to remain in Sandwell instead of having to find better facilities to train in.

"We'll produce Black Country athletes in the Black Country," she said.