Ipswich swimmers invited to look at Broomhill Lido plans

On Saturday, July 6, Friends of Broomhill Library and Broomhill Pool Trust will host a summer fete from 12pm to 4pm where people can review the lido's designs and ask questions to Ipswich Borough Council and Fusion Lifestyle about the project.

The pool shut its doors in 2002 and a £10million project is planned to restore the 1938-built lido after a funding deal was reached between Fusion Lifestyle, the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Ipswich council.

The site is owned by the borough and the local authority contributed £3.3m to the cost of the restoration.

The plans were submitted to the borough council in February.

Mark Rogers, community and partnerships director of Fusion Lifestyle, said: ”Our community approach is to have a positive impact on the local communities living around the facilities we operate with our objective to deliver high-quality sport, health and wellbeing services that are inclusive and accessible to all and look forward to starting our engagement."

Work at the historic pool is set to start this year (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The revamp plans include the restoration of the entrance kiosk - with a ticket office and one half as a heritage exhibition space - to closely replicate the art deco style in which it was first built, including a replica clock tower to match the original.

There will also be an outdoor café, repurposed from the previous buffet building, with a re-fitted kitchen serving snacks, ice creams, teas and coffees.

Also in the planning application is a new health and wellbeing centre, providing a gym, fitness studio, changing rooms and accessible changing spaces rooms, a refreshment area with vending machines and a first aid space.

Broomhill Lido was built in the 1930s and opened in April 1938. The building was listed as Grade II in 2001 but has remained derelict and in a state of disrepair since closing in 2002.

The pool is expected to open again to swimmers in the summer of 2026.