Delight as Chancellor promises £20 million towards cost of indoor swimming pool for Peterborough
A wave of delight has swept across Peterborough after Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised a £20 million Budget boost towards the cost of a new indoor swimming pool for the city.
Sports, education and political leaders across the city have welcomed the announcement by the Chancellor in today’s Budget of a £20 million contribution to the £36 million costs of the 25 metre swimming pool and sports centre that is earmarked for the former Regional Pool site off Bishop’s Road.
It leaves the city consortium behind the pool project to find ways to raise the remaining £16 million needed to get construction, which is expected to start in January 2027, off the and completed in the summer of 2028.
Peterborough was one of three places identified by the Labour Government for investment when the Chancellor announced the Spending Review in June.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This Labour Government is investing in Peterborough which for years was left behind by the previous Tory government.
“I know from visiting the city and speaking to residents that Peterborough has huge potential.
"The £20 million funding for the city’s Sports Quarter will help young people and support the regeneration of the city.”
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes, said: “This is brilliant news.
"The Labour Government has given the greenlight to £20 million towards our new swimming pool.
"Peterborough is the only one of the top 10 fastest growing cities without a public indoor pool. Today’s news from the Chancellor means we can put that right.
“I’ve been fighting for a new pool for two years and I’d really like to thank everyone who has got behind these plans, including ARU Peterborough, City of Peterborough Swimming Club and the council. It just shows what we can achieve when Peterborough comes together.
“This is good news for swimmers, good news for regeneration and good news for Peterborough.”
City council leader Councillor Shabina Qayyum, said: “This significant investment means we are much closer to pulling together the funding that we need to deliver a new swimming pool for our residents.
“A new swimming pool will benefit residents of all ages and generations to come, supporting our younger residents to learn how to swim and will promote health and wellbeing for residents of all ages."
Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “I welcome this new funding for Peterborough.
"With the Station Quarter works having just begun, this is another step towards the change our city centre needs.
"It's important to get this pool delivered and keep pushing forward.
“A new community stadium is high on my list.
"As Mayor, I will work with the government, the city council and others to ensure projects happen.”
Professor Ross Renton, principal and chief executive of ARU Peterborough, said: “This announcement is welcome news for our city.
"ARU Peterborough looks forward to being a strategic partner to the new pool and gym, and our students and staff will benefit greatly from having these fabulous facilities next to our city centre campus.
“We anticipate that some of our new courses, such as Exercise and Health Science, will use the amenities, and this development also creates exciting opportunities for future programmes at ARU Peterborough, including the possibility of Physiotherapy, providing additional benefits to our local community.”
Morgan Stevenson, Co-Chair of the City of Peterborough Swimming Club, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled by this.
"After two years without a permanent pool, we thank the Government for their support, this investment is a vital step towards bringing swimming back to the heart of Peterborough.
"It’s fantastic for our swimmers, families, and the wider community.”
He added: “This £20 million commitment gets us halfway there, enough to start and build momentum, but we still need the remaining funding to ensure the new facility opens as early as possible.
"The city deserves a pool it can be proud of, and we’re determined to help make that happen.”
The preferred option for council?
The decision to go ahead with the swimming pool project was agreed by councillors in October who selected from a number of options with cost ranging from £27 million to £47 million.
They agreed the preferred option that will cost £36,572,000.
It will provide:
- An eight lanes, 25 metre long competition-grade indoor swimming pool
- Poolside and balcony seating for 300 people.
- A 20 metre four lane learner pool with moveable floor.
- Café
- Softplay
- Innerva health suite.
- Community room.
- Health rooms
- Fitness suite with 150 stations and studios.
Public consultation on new swimming pool
A public consultation by Peterborough City Council on a new pool will take place next year, ahead of a planning application being submitted.
To inform the early design stages the council will be running a series of social media polls over the next few weeks to gauge initial views on topics such how people would access it, and what they would like to see included.
The polls will appear on the council’s Facebook page from tomorrow (November 27).