Work set to start on Ipswich's Broomhill Lido within months

Fusion Lifestyle linked up with the Broomhill Trust to show off the plans at the area's summer fete on Saturday - a fete that had to be moved into the local library because of the rain.

Mark Rogers and Alan Wilkinson showed off the plans for Broomhill Lido. (Image: Paul Geater)

Mark Rogers from Fusion Lifestyle, which will build and operate the leisure complex, said it was still awaiting full planning permission but they were all ready to go when that came through.

He said: "Once the final planning is granted we hope to get in diggers fairly quickly. People have waited a long time for this.

"We hope to get started in September or October and then there's a 12-14 month construction period. We're hoping to take on the building in early 2026 and have the pools open that summer."

He emphasised the project relied on a number of partners: "We wouldn't be here today without very real support from the Broomhill Trust, from the borough council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

"Everyone has been very supportive - we couldn't have reached this far without a great deal of determination."

There will be two pools at the lido. (Image: Fusion Lifestyle/KLH Architects)

The pool was last used during the summer of 2002 and since then there has been a long-running campaign to restore it.

In early 2020 work cutting back trees started before the restoration was due to start at Easter that year. 

However, the Covid pandemic put the brakes on that - and the cost shot up to £10m. New funding had to be found and the borough increased its contribution to £3.3m.

The restoration plans drawn up by Alan Wilkinson, of KLH Architects, were tweaked - and the amended images were shown off at the weekend.

Mr Wilkinson said: "I've always said I wanted to swim in the pool before I retired. I had wondered about that, but we're getting there."