New hope that swimmers could return to old lido

Plans to revamp a dilapidated 1930s lido have returned to the surface, after a council managed to resecure the building's ownership and obtain rights to the architectural designs.

Broomhill Lido in Ipswich was leased to Fusion Lifestyles by the borough council and it had been trying to bring the site back into use, but the company fell into administration in April.

The council will need to find new funding for the restoration to take place, as previous grants awarded to revive the pool have since been withdrawn.

Neil MacDonald, leader of the Labour-run authority, said: "It's an icon of Ipswich and we hope to bring it back into use for people to swim [in]."

The Grade II-listed lido first opened its doors to hardy swimmers in 1938, but it was shut in 2002.

Its art deco design makes it a heritage asset, and to restore it would cost about £10m.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund had assigned nearly £7m to the project in grants, but it withdrew the money in July 2025 due to concerns about the financial viability of Fusion Lifestyles. The council was going to provide the remaining £3.3m.

Administrators have now returned ownership of the lido to the council, as it owns the freehold.

MacDonald said it had also managed to get the rights to the architectural plans from the receivers.

He told the BBC it was now all about the finances.

"It's very important to put in a lottery bid that's successful, because they will provide the bulk of the funding for this to bring it back into use," he said.

Planning permission for the restoration of Broomhill Lido was granted in December 2024 and will expire in December 2027.

The council said a project manager was already working on the restoration plans and "engaging with external funding partners".

MacDonald said: "In terms of development, we will do that in-house using Hanford Developments who have a proven track record - for example, with the Grimwades building.

"Subject to securing funding, the council expects to provide a further update on progress in summer 2027."

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