West Norfolk votes to proceed to next stages of work for proposed aquatic centre at Lynnsport

The proposals are intended to help boost health and wellbeing across communities.

St James’ Swimming Pool, opened in 1975 in King’s Lynn, is at the end of its economic life and increasingly costly to run and maintain, due to age and inefficient design. Eventually it will need to close. It has only six lanes, limiting options for casual and competitive swimming.

Community feedback makes clear people want a modern, eight-lane main swimming pool at Lynnsport to replace St James’. They’re also keen to avoid significant disruption that would’ve come from the original idea of a wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport to incorporate a new pool.

Following the community feedback, further feasibility and financial sustainability work, Full Council voted yesterday (24 September) to proceed to the next stages of project development for the recommended option of building a stand-alone aquatic centre at Lynnsport with the following facilities:

• 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.

Investing in new, modern and accessible swim facilities is a key part of the council’s priority to modernise and future-proof sport and leisure facilities, to boost health and wellbeing across communities and help more residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active.

A report considered by councillors 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.

The next stages of project development (RIBA stages 2 and 3) will furnish councillors with the full facts so they can make an informed final decision in 2027 on whether to proceed to construction, including the final business case with assured costings.

Councillor Simon Ring, Deputy Council Leader, said: “People in West Norfolk deserve the very best. In West Norfolk, we need modern, affordable and accessible facilities for club swimming, learn-to-swim programmes and public sessions, to help all our residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active.

“Investing in new, modern swim facilities is central to our duty to modernise and future-proof sport and leisure in West Norfolk. The old pool is at the end of its life and will eventually have 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, our residents have told us what replacement swim facilities they want; we listened, reshaped our plans and tested their feasibility. Our feasibility work shows a stand-alone aquatic centre at Lynnsport would deliver real benefits and better value for our communities, and it is exciting to see what could be coming.

“This is not simply an investment in facilities, but in healthier people, stronger communities and inclusive life opportunities. Alongside the larger main pool, we’re also planning a learner pool 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. That ambition must be designed in from the beginning. The wheelchair access platform, moveable learner pool floor and splash pad will make the centre accessible to far more people, whether learning, rebuilding confidence or training and competing.”

Following the Full Council decision, the council has more technical work to do around developing the proposal, including detailed design, technical investigations, planning work and cost planning.

The stand-alone aquatics centre option is currently estimated to cost £22.9m, compared to an estimated £46m for the wholesale redevelopment of Lynnsport with an integrated pool complex.

Cllr Ring added: “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. Our phased approach to project development is normal for major projects and ensures openness, accountability and discussion with all elected councillors at key decision points.”