Major £8m upgrade plans for historic lido

Officials said they wanted to make Droitwich Spa a national destination for leisure and wellbeing

Major redevelopment plans for the historic Droitwich Lido have been unveiled.

The £8m expansion proposal is part of a wider scheme to make the town a national destination for leisure and wellbeing.

It is hoped the redevelopment will kickstart regeneration of the area and make the lido less financially reliant on Wychavon District Council, the authority said.

Under the plans, the existing cafe will be replaced with a brine pool, spa and leisure facilities and a new cafe will be built along with an extension of the ground to include a new swimming area.

A four-week consultation is now under way for residents and the public to share their views.

Feedback from the consultation will be presented to councillors ahead of a final decision on funding the scheme in February.

Matt Nicol, chair of Droitwich Spa Place Board, which has been involved in the plans as part of shaping a vision for that town, said: “We’re committed to supporting Wychavon’s vision for enhancing our town for both residents and visitors.

"The lido project has been a central focus for over a year and we’re thrilled to invite residents to join us as we take this exciting next step.

"The project is a result of significant effort and collaboration from many groups, including Save Our Brine Baths and Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido, to create something we can all truly take pride in.”

'Sustainable future'

The lido is one of Britain’s last remaining inland, open air saltwater pools.

It originally opened in 1935 and closed in 2000, but reopened in 2007 after a popular campaign to bring it back into use.

Other upgrades in the plan include an improved entrance and path leading to the lido, "wing extensions" to the existing cafe building and bringing the Art Deco building back into use plus, moving the water play area into the Lido Park.

Representatives from the council and Wychavon Leisure and Droitwich Spa Place Board will be at the library to answer any questions and listen to feedback on the proposal.

Councillor Richard Morris, executive board member for economy and tourism, said: “Residents made it clear during the consultation for the town prospectus they wanted to see the lido invested in to create a sustainable future for an asset they are proud of.

"I’m delighted this proposal delivers on that ask. Incorporating the brine pool also means we have an opportunity to bring the two facilities unique to Droitwich together for the first time.”