Hackney,
21
January
2020
|
09:58
Europe/London

London Fields Lido to expand for first time since 1932

London Fields Lido is set to expand its swimming facilities for the first time since 1932, after Hackney Council’s Cabinet approved £4.5m funding for a learner pool at the much-loved community venue. 

The popular outdoor lido has seen visitor numbers increase from 120,000 when it reopened in 2006 to 330,000 last year, and now the Council is keen to build a new learner pool at the site to make it more accessible for children and adults to learn to swim. 

The proposals will be subject to a full public consultation after a design team is appointed in 2021. Work to build the new pool could begin in 2022.

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney
For those who brave a frosty early morning swim or for the thousands who enjoy its balmy summer evenings, London Fields Lido’s popularity is something to celebrate. However, we want people in Hackney to be able to make even more of their incredible lido, which is why we’re delivering on our manifesto promise to add a brand new learner pool to the site - opening it up to even more families and less confident swimmers. 

By investing in Hackney’s leisure facilities to make them more inclusive and accessible, we hope to make the borough more liveable and encourage our residents to make physical activity a part of their daily routine - with the immeasurable benefits to health and wellbeing this can bring.

Despite 40% funding cuts from central Government since 2010, we are passionate about protecting the services and facilities that make life better for the borough’s residents, which has only been possible through careful financial management over the last ten years. This investment in London Fields Lido is part of that commitment, and seeks to protect and improve it at a time when high quality public services are needed most. 
Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney

London Fields Lido was opened in 1932. It closed in 1988 and fell into a state of disrepair before being reopened by Hackney Council in 2006 after a campaign by local residents. It was further modernised and renewed in 2017 with a new reception area, refurbished changing rooms and toilet facilities, new internal lockers, new external showers and a full refurbishment of the pool tank and tiles.