Alliance Leisure has been given the green light by West Berkshire Council to begin work on the £5m Berkshire Lido redevelopment at Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury
The £5m Berkshire Lido redevelopment was given the thumbs up following extensive consultation with the local people, to evaluate how they would like to see the Lido developed and updated.
A new 50 metre Olympic-sized pool will be developed alongside additional interactive water play features for children and young people.
The Berkshire Lido redevelopment is projected to increase usage from the current levels of 15 – 20,000 visits per annum to over 50,000 across the six-month opening period.
The Lido is an integral part of West Berkshire’s landscape
Councillor Howard Woollaston, West Berkshire’s executive member for Leisure and Culture, commented: “The Lido is steeped in history and has provided happy memories for many generations of local residents.
“It is an integral part of our landscape and through this £5 million investment we intend to ensure it remains so for many years to come.”
Due to the age of the structure, the Newbury Lido is affected by ground water levels, which, over the years has undermined the integrity of the pool and requires constant maintenance.
To be able to inspect the pool and carry out any maintenance, the pool must be emptied, which can only be carried out when ground water levels are low.
In past years this has meant the opening date for the summer season has been decided by the water table level, often meaning a reduced operating season.
The £5m investment by West Berkshire Council will include the introduction of an underground tank to control pool water levels.
The length of the main pool will be reduced from 72 metres to 50 metres, and the pool depth will be reduced from a maximum of 2.8 metres to a consistent 1.5metres, lowering the pressure on the structure and easing maintenance demands.
‘Creating a sustainable future for one of the UK’s oldest and most loved outdoor pools’
Greg Walker, business development manager, Alliance Leisure: “The investment will support an increase in annual visitors from 20,000 to 50,000, creating a sustainable future for one of the UK’s oldest and most loved outdoor pools.”
Works began in May 2022 and are due to complete in the summer of 2023.
