The much-delayed £42m (US$78m, 60.7m euro) Thermae Bath Spa project in Bath, UK, is to open to the public on 7 August, more than four years after its scheduled opening date and nearly three times over budget.

Plans for the Thermae Bath Spa were first revealed in 2000 but construction was beset by delays including a problem centring on faulty paintwork on the spa’s pool walls and another fault that was discovered in the waterproof floors of the steamroom.

The Thermae Bath Spa – designed to restore Bath’s historic thermal spas for public use and backed by the Bath & North East Somerset Council – was originally due to open in 2003.

The spa will comprise four thermal baths; eight massage rooms; 12 treatment rooms; an aroma steamroom and yoga, meditation and pilates studios.

There will also be a Springs café and restaurant while spa products will be supplied by Pevonia Botanica and Haslauer.

Over the next couple of weeks and coinciding with the final fit-out of the site being completed, staff will be moved into the main spa buildings, onsite training will be finished, ‘live testing’ of all the systems will be carried out and the advance reservations programme will be opened.

The Thermae Bath Spa managing director Henk Verschuur said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce the opening date of the spa. This is the moment we have all been waiting for. I have a dedicated team ready and I believe the opening of Thermae Bath Spa heralds a new and exciting era for Bath as Britain’s most famous spa destination.” Details: www.thermaebathspa.com