Hilsea Lido

Hilsea Lido’s Revival: Blending Heritage with Modern Amenities for Year-Round Fun

S&P worked with Portsmouth City Council to refurbish the 1930s Hilsea Lido in north Portsmouth. The council received funding from the Government’s Levelling Up initiative, which was part of a £20 million resource. This funding supported a broader scheme to promote local growth, with £7 million specifically for renovating the Lido. The project began by creating a masterplan for the western end of the linear park. This masterplan provided a long-term vision for integrating the park. They also conducted condition and technical surveys, particularly to assess the structural state of the nearly 100-year-old facilities.

The Lido, an important local community asset, is managed by a voluntary trust, ‘Hilsea Lido for the People.’ S&P worked closely with Portsmouth City Council to engage with the trust and the wider community through workshops, meetings, and questionnaires to create a shared vision and journey for the project.

The project aimed to stabilise the pool tank and buildings and ensure the pool tank was watertight. It also sought to update the filtration system, building services, and building fabric to meet modern energy-efficient standards. Due to the growing interest in cold water swimming and the pool’s size (67 x 13 meters with a depth of 4.5 meters) the pool remained unheated. However, the goal was to develop the pool in a manner that allowed for year-round use.

Regenerating the pool surrounds, sun terraces, and grassed relaxation areas expanded the capacity beyond just swimming, creating a destination that could accommodate closer to 1,000 bathers on a sunny day, similar to the numbers seen in the 1930s. These site improvements attracted greater usage, generated more revenue, which helped fund ongoing improvements to the park itself.

Results and Community Impact

The refurbishment of Hilsea Lido has boosted its appeal and functionality. The funding stabilised and modernised the Lido to meet energy-efficient standards while preserving its historical charm. Renovations increased capacity. Upgrades included better play equipment, more activities and events, and improved showers, toilets, and changing facilities. The Lido is now a well-maintained, attractive, and accessible spot, enhancing community engagement and generating revenue for further park improvements.

October 2023