Final plans for £7m 1930s lido restoration revealed

Neve Gordon-FarleighBBC News, Suffolk
News imageKLH architects Architect plans for outdoor swimming poolKLH architects
Broomhill Pool in Ipswich, built in 1938, was closed in 2002, but new plans are in place to reopen it

Final proposals to bring a 1930s outdoor lido that has been shut for two decades back to life have been revealed.

Broomhill Pool in Ipswich was closed in 2002, with subsequent plans to renovate the Grade II-listed building stalling due to lack of funding.

However, Ipswich Borough Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Fusion Lifestyle agreed a new funding package in January to save the pool, and the final designs were revealed at Broomhill Summer Fete on Saturday.

Swimmers hope to return to the water in 2026 following the £7.25m restoration.

News imageKLH architects Architect plans for outdoor swimming poolKLH architects
Final designs for the pool were unveiled at Broomhill Summer Fete on Saturday

Works on the pool, which was built in 1938, were due to start in 2020 but were paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Planning permission was originally granted for the redevelopment in 2017.

Mark Rogers, from Fusion Lifestyle, told the Ipswich Star that work could now begin, with spades due to go into the ground in September or October.

News imageKLH architects Architect plans for outdoor poolKLH architects
A deal to save the lido was agreed in January between Ipswich Borough Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Fusion Lifestyle

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