A heated lido in a historic park is one of three outdoor swimming pools being planned in east London.
Redbridge council has vowed to have a 25-metre pool open in Valentine’s Park in Ilford by August next year.
Waltham Forest council is planning a lido on a sports field in Leyton, while Hackney council wants to create a beginner’s pool at a “wild swimming” reservoir in Stoke Newington.
The ventures are being planned amid a surge in popularity for outdoor swimming in recent years.
Redbridge wants to build a six-lane open-air pool and gym beside a lido that was in use in the park – which was visited by the Queen during her 2012 diamond jubilee and once hosted the Bake Off tent – between 1924 and 1995.
The lido, which “will not be more than £4m max”, is part of an £11m council investment in leisure facilities, according to Redbridge leader Jas Athwal.
He told the Standard: “It’s about taking a public health approach, whether it’s violent crime or health or inequality, and making sure we have leisure as an offer.
“When we came into administration in 2014, we had only one swimming pool in the entire borough.” He aims to have five by the end of 2024, when a pool at Wanstead leisure centre should finally be completed.
“It’s exciting times. Valentine’s Park is regularly voted as one of the 10 best parks in the capital. Money isn’t plentiful, but we want to show we are not here to manage decline and, even in the depths of the financial constraints that councils operate under, we can offer a glimmer of hope to residents.”
Mr Athwal, who previously swam at the old lido, said the council hoped to submit a planning application later this year and open by “late summer or early August” next year.
Waltham Forest council wants to open a lido at Low Hall sports ground, near Walthamstow marshes. Approval would be needed to build on the site, which is classed as metropolitan open land.
A “health and wellbeing hub” has been suggested alongside the lido.
Waltham Forest leader Grace Williams said: “Our ambition is to create a new health and leisure hub that will give a huge boost to the local economy.”
In Hackney, the council has published plans to develop West Reservoir — opposite the Woodbury Wetlands — with a beginners’ swimming area, new changing rooms and a café.
The reservoir is already used for water sports and open-water swimming but the council wants to develop it, using £700,000 from London mayor Sadiq Khan and £1.6 million from developers.
Caroline Woodley, Hackney’s cabinet member for families, parks and leisure, said: “We want to make open-water swimming more inclusive, while retaining the spirit of this special place.”
