The Lido is one of the largest open-air pools swimming pools in Europe
One of the largest open-air swimming pools in Europe is set to be updated with a new sports hall.
Members of the South London Swimming Club (SLSC) are hoping to provide more facilities for users of Tooting Bec Lido.
The club have recently been considering the next 100 years for the Lido and what it will mean to future generations.
Now, a planning application has been submitted to Wandsworth Council, detailing proposals for the new community space.
It is hoped that the new building will ensure the future of the venue, making it more attractive both to swimmers and the wider community.
The design, proposed by David Gibson Architects, features a new courtyard and winter entrance leading directly to the deep end of the pool which has been part of the common for over a century.
The hall will be located in the courtyard with glass doors, an eco-friendly roof and facilities for staff.
Key objectives for the plans include improving the long-term sustainability of the Lido while promoting its seaside charm, providing an indoor space for Lido users, providing facilities for staff, increasing out-of-season and off-peak usage and increasing capacity to maximise revenue in the summer.
SLSC members have been heavily involved in the plans, from a Open Forum in 2011 to a ‘Paint the future’ event last year where they drew, painted or wrote down their visions of how it might look in one, ten and 100 years’ time.
The club state that they are in a position to fund more than half of the cost of the proposed building, with the rest hoped to be raised through a contribution from Wandsworth Council, grants and fundraising.
Photo courtesy of hlry_jennings, with thanks.
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