Council spending £850,000 to design swimming pool it might not even build

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If approved by the council the spending would only cover the design phase and business case preparation for the pool

West Norfolk Council is preparing to allocate close to £850,000 for the design of a swimming pool at a leisure centre despite having no assurance the project will ever progress to construction.

The local authority wants to replace the deteriorating pool at King's Lynn's Lynnsport leisure centre in the town centre with a new, bigger facility.

Members of the council's corporate performance panel are being asked to approve setting aside more than £845,000 to fund the design work and development of a business case.

However, an officer's report made clear the money would only "determine whether the project should proceed to construction".

Should the panel back the proposal, it would still require approval from both the council's cabinet and full council.

Deputy council leader Simon Ring was enthusiastic for the project, saying: "People in West Norfolk deserve the very best.

"We have waited far too long for a swimming facility that we can genuinely be proud of, and I want us to seize this opportunity to create something exceptional, not simply replace an old pool with a new one.

Mr Ring emphasised the plans extended well beyond aquatics alone.

"Our ambition is for Lynnsport to become a nationally recognised centre of excellence for accessible and disabled sport, a place where somebody's disability is never a barrier to taking part, competing or simply enjoying being active."

The existing St James Pool has been in operation since 1975 and is approaching the end of its useful lifespan.

Maintenance costs have been rising steadily, owing to its age and outdated design.

Its six-lane configuration also restricts capacity for both recreational swimmers and competitive events.

The proposed Lynnsport replacement would be a significant upgrade, featuring a 25-metre main pool with eight lanes, a 17-metre learner pool with four lanes, and a splash pad.

Building the facility as a standalone centre would allow for "greater design flexibility, reduced construction risk and less disruption to existing leisure services during delivery", details the council report.

It added the new complex would deliver a "modern, energy-efficient swim facility capable of meeting the needs of residents, schools, clubs and the wider community".

The corporate performance panel is scheduled to consider the proposal when it convenes on September 2.

Approval at that stage would not be the final word, as the decision must subsequently be ratified by both the council's cabinet and the full council before any funds are committed.

Even if the wider council gives the green light to the project, the spending would only cover the design phase and business case preparation.

A definitive decision on whether to actually proceed with building the new pool is not anticipated until 2027, leaving residents facing a potentially lengthy wait before knowing whether the project will materialise.

The ageing St James Pool will continue to serve King's Lynn's swimmers, despite its mounting maintenance burden and limited capacity.