Council approves £250,000 grant to help restore Cleveland Pools

A £250,000 contribution towards the completion of the project to restore open-air community swimming at Cleveland Pools in Bath has been approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The £9m restoration of the country’s only surviving Georgian lido is expected to be completed this summer and will see the creation of unique open-air swimming pools heated by heat pumps in the adjacent river.

The funding will support the final stages of reopening the pools to the public, which include a pool for adults and competent swimmers and a shallower pool for children to enjoy.

The Grade II listed buildings on the site will also be restored.

The council had allocated the money from the Community Infrastructure Levy as part of its 2022/23 budget setting, and this has now been approved in a single member decision by Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development and Resources.

The council owns the property and has agreed a 150 year-lease with Cleveland Pools Trust. The £250k additional grant funding comes after grants of £350k towards the main project previously awarded by the council, alongside a further £557k grant towards a water source heat pump. from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, following a successful bid to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Councillor Richard Samuel said: “It’s exciting that the reopening of the pools is getting closer and I’m delighted to approve this further funding to help get the project finished. It’s the culmination of many years of hard work by everyone involved and will be a huge asset for the community. Swimming is known to boost physical and mental wellbeing, so having the opportunity to enjoy the water outdoors in this beautiful setting is going to be so beneficial and relaxing for people to enjoy.”

Anna Baker, Project Director at Cleveland Pools, said: “The Cleveland Pools Trust is most grateful for this grant from Bath & North East Somerset Council which supports the final stages of the restoration process. The Pools are a local asset for local people and we are looking forward to welcoming swimmers and non-swimmers alike. This grant brings us another step closer to opening, and ensuring as many people as possible can benefit from everything the Pools offers."

Read the single member decision here.