We're proceeding to the next stages of exciting plans to invest in new modern, accessible swim facilities at Lynnsport, which will help boost health, wellbeing and participation in sport across our communities
What is planned and why?
In West Norfolk, we need modern, affordable and accessible swim facilities for club swimming, learn-to-swim programmes and public sessions, to help more residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active.
Investing in new, modern and accessible swim facilities is a key part of the council’s priority to modernise and future-proof local sport and leisure facilities, to boost health and wellbeing across our communities.
The proposed aquatic centre at Lynnsport would replace St James’ Pool, opened in 1975, which sadly is at the end of its economic life and increasingly costly to run and maintain, due to age and inefficient design. It would need significant investment to keep it running in the coming years.
Eventually it will need to close, whether or not it is replaced. We have seen this time and again elsewhere in the country, including most recently in Suffolk where the old pool at Kingfisher Leisure Centre in Sudbury has had to close suddenly and permanently to protect public safety.
In West Norfolk, community feedback favours a modern, eight-lane main swimming pool at Lynnsport to replace St James’, which only has six lanes, limiting options current for casual and competitive swimming. People are also keen to avoid major disruption that would’ve come from the original idea of a wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport to incorporate a new pool.
Following community feedback, further feasibility and financial sustainability work, Full Council voted on 24 September 2026 to proceed to the next stages of project development (known as RIBA Stages 2 and 3) for a recommended option of building a stand-alone aquatic centre at Lynnsport.
Following this technical work, councillors will make an informed, final decision in 2027 on whether or not to proceed with this investment.
What facilities are planned for the new aquatic centre?
The following facilities are planned:
- Eight-lane 25m main pool
- Four-lane 17m learner pool with moveable floor
- Interactive splash pad
- Sauna and steam facilities
- Reception, vend and spectator areas
- Changing space
- Additional car parking.
These indicative concept images (above and below) give a sense of what some of the new facilities could look like.
What do the next steps involve?
Following the September 2026 Full Council decision, we have more technical work to do around developing the proposal, including detailed design, technical investigations, planning work and cost planning, before councillors can be asked to make a final decision in 2027. These stages of project development are known as RIBA Stages 2 and 3.
How will you ensure the new aquatic centre is accessible to everyone?
This is not simply an investment in facilities, but in healthier people, stronger communities and inclusive life opportunities. Alongside the larger main pool (25m, eight-lanes), we’re also planning a learner pool (17m, four lanes) with moveable floor, plus an interactive splashpad to build water confidence and a fun experience for all ages and abilities.
Our ambition is for Lynnsport to become a nationally recognised centre of excellence for accessible and disabled sport, where disability is never a barrier. The wheelchair access platform, moveable learner pool floor and interactive splash pad will make the centre accessible to far more people, whether learning, rebuilding confidence or training and competing.
What is the estimated cost of the new aquatic centre?
The stand-alone aquatics centre option is currently estimated to cost £22.9m. This compares to an estimated £46m for the original idea of a wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport with an integrated pool complex.
Why are you spending money on more project development work before making a final decision?
The next stages of project development (known as RIBA Stages 2 and 3) will furnish councillors with the full facts including the final business case with assured costings, so they can make an informed final decision in 2027 on whether to proceed to construction.
Asking for a final decision at this stage would be premature, given the further homework yet to do around this option and the significant level of potential public investment involved (currently estimated at around £22.9m).
Our phased approach to project development is normal for major projects of this type and ensures openness, accountability and discussion with all elected councillors at key decision points.
Why did you pivot from the original idea of wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport to incorporate a pool, to focus instead on a stand-alone aquatic centre?
After initial feasibility that took place in the first half of 2025, Full Council agreed on 31 July 2025 to the further design, survey and financial work needed to produce a business case for a major upgrade of Lynnsport, incorporating a brand new swimming pool to replace St James’.
This technical work took place during summer/autumn 2025, alongside extensive community engagement with a wide range of people and groups to consider an initial proposal for a wholesale redevelopment of the main Lynnsport building with an integrated pool complex, including a 25-metre main pool with six lanes and a 20-metre leisure pool with four lanes.
Community feedback made clear that people want a modern, eight-lane main swimming pool at Lynnsport to replace St James’. They were also keen to avoid, if possible, the significant disruption that would’ve been inevitable with a wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport.
In addition, detailed financial sustainability work showed that the additional income generated by the wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport would not have been enough to fully offset the £40m capital borrowing required.
After considering the community’s feedback and further financial advice, the council announced in December 2025 that it would look again at how to reshape the plans to focus more strongly around people’s priorities and still deliver the key benefits for communities, though at better value.
During 2026, the project team explored the feasibility of building at Lynnsport a stand-alone aquatic centre including a larger eight-lane, 25m main pool with learner pool and splash pad, plus potentially other new facilities.
The resultant report considered by councillors in September 2026 says the stand-alone aquatic centre at Lynnsport offers greater design flexibility, reduced construction risk and less disruption to existing leisure services during delivery, plus the opportunity to develop a modern, energy-efficient swim facility capable of meeting the needs of residents, schools, clubs and the wider community.
Alongside the new aquatic centre, the council will continue maintaining and modernising the existing Lynnsport facilities, though on a phased basis to spread the cost and reduce disruption.
Why is the new pool proposed to be located at Lynnsport?
A feasibility study undertaken during the early stages of project development concluded that there were no suitable alternative sites for a swimming pool/leisure facility in King’s Lynn town centre itself, and that relocating provision to Lynnsport provided the most viable option.
Opting to carry out a significant upgrade of St James’ was also discounted as it would lead to the closure of St James’ for a long period of time, leaving King’s Lynn without a swimming pool.
What criteria was used to assess possible locations for a new pool?
The following criteria was assessed:
- Whether the site would accommodate a small, medium or large pool
- Parking provision on-site or nearby
- If the location was suitable for service/deliver access
- The potential for delivery at pace and the likelihood of an approved planning application
- Council ownership of land/council control/lease arrangement was also considered
What public engagement took place on the proposed upgrade to Lynnsport?
The council has sought the views of local people and key user groups as part of project development. An initial community survey was completed in July/August 2024 to explore what children and adults wanted to see from the borough council physical activity and leisure services that helped shape the proposals.
Significant engagement with stakeholders and the community took place in August/September 2025 around the initial proposal to undertake a wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport. As above, people’s feedback led to further feasibility work and ultimately the current proposal of a stand-alone aquatic centre, with plans reshaped to focus more strongly around people’s priorities while still delivering the key benefits for our communities, though at better value.
Will Lynnsport be renamed and what will happen to the St James’ site?
There are no immediate plans to rename Lynnsport. The existing site of St James Swimming Pool is a council asset and is one of six priority locations identified for regeneration within the emerging King’s Lynn Masterplan. No decisions have been made.
What is happening with investing in the Oasis?
The proposed facility development at Oasis will be considered as part of the comprehensive Hunstanton Masterplan, which is being shaped following extensive community engagement.
The leisure centre is being considered as part of this, so it becomes an integral part of a wider, more ambitious plan to revitalise the town, and compliments those exciting developments when they are agreed.
This plan also takes into consideration findings on the structural integrity and suitability of the promenade and current flood defences. This approach enables a more collaborative and comprehensive planning process. In the meantime, we will continue with the planned maintenance programme at the Oasis.
Why not invest in Downham Market too?
The pool at Downham Market Sports Centre opened in 1993. While it will need future investment, it is operating well with no significant issues at the present time. St James’, opened in 1975, and Oasis, opened in 1984, are the borough’s oldest leisure facilities.
An initial assessment undertaken by us has concluded they are at the end of their economic lives and increasingly expensive to run. Both have high energy costs and carbon emissions due to their age and inefficient design, and will require significant investment to keep them running in the coming years. Downham Market is not currently as pressing a priority compared to St James’ and the Oasis.
If the aim is boosting local health and wellbeing, why fund the new hospital instead?
Local councils and the NHS are funded differently. Council funding is for council services which include sport and leisure facilities and services, which help to reduce the pressure on the NHS by keeping people healthier and more able for longer.
The Government’s New Hospital Programme has confirmed a new district general hospital for King’s Lynn, with the scheme scheduled for delivery between 2030 and 2033. The Government is investing £2.8 billion in the new hospitals at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth.
Construction of a new multi-storey car park at the QEH is underway and is expected to be completed towards the end of 2027, freeing up the existing main car park as the site for the new hospital. Find out more on the New QEH website.