Hilsea Lido

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

S&P is working 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 is part of a £20 million resource. This funding supports 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 provides 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 currently managed by a voluntary trust, ‘Hilsea Lido for the People.’ S&P is working 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 aims to stabilise the pool tank and buildings and ensure the pool tank is watertight. It also seeks 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 will remain unheated. However, the goal is to develop the pool in a manner that allows for year-round use. 

Regenerating the pool surrounds, sun terraces, and grassed relaxation areas will expand 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 will attract greater usage, generating more revenue, which will help fund ongoing improvements to the park itself. 

Results and Community Impact

The refurbishment of Hilsea Lido will boost its appeal and functionality. The funding will stabilise and modernise the Lido to meet energy-efficient standards while preserving its historical charm. Renovations will increase capacity, allowing up to 1,000 bathers on sunny days, similar to the 1930s. Upgrades will include better play equipment, more activities and events, and improved showers, toilets, and changing facilities. The Lido will become a well-maintained, attractive, and accessible spot, enhancing community engagement and generating revenue for further park improvements.

October 2023