Author: broomhillpooltrust

https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24119170.plans-submitted-restore-1930s-broomhill-lido-ipswich/

Plans have been submitted to restore Ipswich’s Broomhill Lido weeks after it secured the funding it needed to bring the historic pool back to public use.

Leisure and sports management company Fusion Lifestyle have put in plans to Ipswich Borough Council for the site on Sherrington Road, off Norwich Road.

The plans include the restoration of the entrance kiosk – with ticket office and one half as a heritage exhibition space – to closely replicate the art deco style in which it was first built, including a replica clock tower to match the original.

There will also be an outdoor café, repurposed from the previous buffet building, with a re-fitted kitchen serving snacks, ice creams, teas and coffees.
Also in the planning application is a new health and wellbeing centre, providing a gym, fitness studio, changing rooms and accessible changing spaces rooms, refreshment area with vending machines, and first aid space.

It will be designed in a similar style to the 1930s original building, but will “remain identifiable as a new element”.
The pool will be repaired, existing changing rooms demolished to make way for the fitness suite building, and the kiosk, below-ground changing areas, groundstand, and buffet building will be restored.

The plans do not vary from the planning application previously approved in 2019. The project was due to start in 2020, but the Covid pandemic resulted in the shelving of the scheme and planning permission expired due to the impact of nation lockdowns.
The plans were received on Monday, February 12.
Since then there have been nearly two years of talks and campaigning, which resulted in an agreement at the end of last year.
Broomhill Lido was built in the 1930s and opened in April 1938. The building was listed Grade II in 2001, but has remained derelict and in a state of disrepair since closing in 2002.

The pool is expected to open again to swimmers in the summer of 2026.

North West Ipswich BLT SURVEY: LIVE in the NW of Ipswich. Care about NW Ipswich. Your voice counts!

The North West Big Local Trust is asking for your views about this part of Ipswich.
Survey Link: https://www.allcounted.com/s?did=3oa5zfxin5oah&page=7

The BLT Partnership also has around £250,000 of funding available to be spent in this area/for this area. So if you are part of small local groups, or need community funding, its worth exploring further.

Broomhill Pool, Park, and Library are also key assets that serve this part of town. Supplementary funding may be required to fully refurbish and modernise the Pool’s iconic Wicksteed Diving Stage. Local funding like this could make a significant difference. So, please respond and let the BLT know what you want in NW Ipswich.

Survey questions:

• What do you like about NW Ipswich
• What do you dislike about NW Ipswich
• What would you really like to see happen in North West Ipswich?
• How do you currently find out about what is happening in North West Ipswich?
• If £250,000 could be spent in North West Ipswich, what would YOU like to spend it on to benefit the whole community?
• Does a project, group or oganisation in North West Ipswich need support? Let us know below.

https://www.nwipswichblt.co.uk/the-partnership

Broomhill Pool Trust President, Mike Read MBE, a 33-time English Channel swimmer has expressed his delight at news that an “iconic” lido is to reopen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-67959970

The Grade II-listed Broomhill Pool in Ipswich closed in 2002, but Michael Read has been campaigning for the reopening for several years.

A funding deal has been agreed which will see the pool reopen in 2026, after numerous previous delays.

Mr Read said: “It’s an absolutely iconic part of Ipswich.”

A £7.25m restoration starting in 2020 was paused due to the pandemic.

Plans to restore and reopen the Grade II listed Broomhill Pool were put on hold due to the pandemic.

A funding deal has now been struck between stakeholders Ipswich Borough Council, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Fusion Lifestyle.

Mr Read, of the Broomhill Pool Trust, said: “It’s been my life for nearly 50 years now. I swam in the pool for 30 years, and for the last 20, I have been campaigning to save it.

“It’s an absolutely iconic part of Ipswich, and even of Suffolk. It is the most wonderful pool.”

Mr Read said seeing “such a wonderful pool” in its current state made him feel depressed. The new plans will include a fitness centre, adding to what the trust says is one of “Britain’s finest lidos”.

“It is 50 metres long and has the deepest diving point in East Anglia,” Mr Read said.

“It was the home of thousands of children for 50 years. Open air swimming has become so popular, I’m sure once people realise that the pool is open again, they will flock to it.

“When asked about Broomhill, people often say ‘gosh, I met my girlfriend there’, ‘I had my first kiss there’ or ‘I swam my first length there’.

“It was an absolutely wonderful place.”

Seeing the pool in its current state, Mr Read said: “It used to make me feel fairly depressed, but this wonderful news, that the pool can be restored raises my spirits, and I hope it raised every body else’s.”

John Cook said that Broomhill was a place for “generations” of people in Ipswich learning to swim.

John Cook, a Labour member on Ipswich Borough Council responsible for communities and sport, said: “The Broomhill Pool Trust have worked really hard to bring everything together.

“The council, from the start, had a determination to get the pool open.

“We recognise this is an iconic building. Generations of Ipswich youngsters learned to swim here.

“We can have a great facility which the people of Ipswich can be proud of.”

Published12th January 2024

https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/broomhill-lido-restoration-secured

Fusion Lifestyle will lead the £10m restoration of Broomhill Lido, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Ipswich Borough Council.

The restoration will see the pool provide swimming, fitness and community facilities.

Fusion-Lifestyle is the leading operator of heritage leisure buildings, and will lead the works and ongoing delivery of the service at Broomhill.

Fusion Lifestyle, the charitable sports and leisure management organisation, has today announced it has secured grant funding from The National Heritage Lottery Fund and Ipswich Borough Council to complete the long-planned restoration of the historic, Grade II listed Broomhill Lido.

The grants will help cover the almost £10m required to complete the project, with the restoration seeing the open-air pool in the centre of Ipswich returned to its former glory; providing swimming, fitness, and community facilities to the local area. This follows over 20 years of efforts from campaigners and user groups in support of the proposals.

Councillor John Cook, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Communities and Sport, said:  “Ipswich Borough Council is thrilled that Broomhill Lido will be brought back to life.   Thanks to funding from the Council, Fusion Lifestyles, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this historic local landmark will be restored to its former glory.

The restoration of Broomhill Lido stands as testament to the Council’s and Fusion Lifestyle’s tenacity and strategic commitment, alongside the support of our community to bring this cherished attraction into use.

 Ipswich Borough Council is providing a £3.3 million grant to the partnership, which will see the regeneration of Broomhill Lido, creating an attraction which entices more people to work, live, and visit Ipswich.”Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, said: “This is an exciting project, and I’m pleased to see everyone’s hard work pay off. I have worked tirelessly in support of the Broomhill Lido; I believe it is a local treasure which has created a great many memories for the people of Ipswich, and I’m thrilled that we will be able to support this legacy for future generations.”

Fusion-Lifestyle is the leading operator of heritage leisure buildings and will lead the works and ongoing delivery of the service at Broomhill. Work will take place over a two-year period, with a planned opening in early 2026, bringing much-welcomed opportunities for local users and visitors alike. It will also offer a number of year-round full-time roles, and casual jobs over the peak season.

The new facility will undergo some modernisation works but will maintain its characteristic feel and will be enhanced with a new gym and studio offering, as well as the reinstatement of the lido and nursery pool.

Mark Rogers, Communities and Partnerships Director, at Fusion-Lifestyle said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to deliver this exciting project and reinstate the Broomhill Lido at the heart of the local community. It’s been a long-planned project that we’re sure will delight the community. We want to take the opportunity to thank The National Heritage Lottery Fund and Ipswich Borough Council for all their support in making this happen”.

Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are delighted to support Fusion Lifestyle with their ambitious plans for the restoration and redevelopment of Broomhill Lido. Once restored, Broomhill Lido aims to be an inclusive, vibrant hub which gives renewed purpose to a site steeped in history.

“At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we aim to ensure heritage sites like this Grade II listed lido are valued and sustained for all to enjoy now and into the future, and we look forward to seeing visitors and locals enjoy the Lido when it reopens.”

STATEMENT FROM THE BROOMHILL POOL TRUST:

“What a wonderful way to start the year! This really is news to lift the spirits of the whole town.

“A significant breakthrough for Broomhill Pool is announced today as stakeholders agree a FUNDING PACKAGE to get Broomhill Pool’s restoration restarted.

“To their huge credit both Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) and National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) have both upped their commitment and financial stake.

“Additionally, Fusion Lifestyle brings considerable expertise. They are the largest operator of heritage lidos and pools in the UK. They have unrivalled experience with heritage pools and lidos, funding, restoration, and operation.

“The Broomhill Pool Trust has worked to keep the campaign fresh, relevant, publicly engaged and backed for over 20 years. Broomhill Pool enjoys cross-party political + great public support because it was an outstanding asset for Ipswich and because it will be again.

“The Trust looks forward to working in partnership with all the stakeholders during the restoration process and as an active community partner for one of Britain’s finest lidos.

For full story see Ipswich Star link: https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24043519.broomhill-pool-ipswich-gets-final-restoration-go-ahead/