A council has taken a major step forward on its £5m improvement plan for an iconic structure.
South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC) cabinet has approved the contract award to the preferred bidder IBI Group after receiving cross-party support for moving to phase one of the repair and refurbishment, as well as plans to repair and rejuvenate the promenade.
The work at the derelict South Lakeland District Council-owned lido will preserve it for the benefit of the community and see it reopen to the public again after more than 25 years, creating a new multi-use public space for the local community and visitors.
The multi-million-pound project will also encourage greater tourism to the Grange and wider Morecambe Bay areas, as well as protect the site’s immense social and cultural heritage in a way that doesn’t preclude the option of bringing the pool back into use at some point in the future.
SLDC continues to remain open to exploring long-term and sustainable offers for the site.
Cabinet was told that the Grade II-listed site was not currently on the ‘at risk register’ maintained by Historic England, but it was reasonable to assume that this would happen within the next three to seven years if the site was left.
Failing to repurpose the site and undertake essential structural repair works which are necessary for the proper preservation of the building or works that are urgently necessary for the preservation of the listed building, would inevitably leave future administrations liable for even greater costs.
The total cost of all the work on the lido and promenade will be £5.18 million, which includes £1.1 million for the promenade from a £2,351,200 grant the Morecambe Bay Partnership received from the Coastal Communities Fund, added to the £1.1 million SLDC had allocated to the promenade part of the project.
SLDC had previously earmarked £1.96 million for the lido work.
Cabinet approved the contract award and agreed to ask full council to approve meeting a funding shortfall of £867,047 over the original budget from capital reserves.
It was agreed that proceeding was also conditional upon the confirmation and satisfactory negotiation of the terms of the Coastal Communities Fund grant agreement.
Improvements to the promenade, subject to planning permission, will include repairs to unstable sections of the sea defence wall, infrastructure for future promenade lighting; a new children’s play area on the prom; resurfacing works; and public realm improvements, including new public artworks.
The lido was constructed in 1932 and remained open for 61 years until its closure in 1993 due to a combination of low usage and increasing operational and repair costs.
