MP supports council chief's vow to borrow £16 million to build indoor swimming pool for Peterborough

Andrew Pakes MP says that speed is the essence if the proposed 25 metre long indoor pool and leisure centre is to be built and opened on schedule.

A challenging timetable has been drawn up by the consortium behind the venture that seeks to have the pool and centre open to the public in just two years.

The Government has already pledged to grant £20 million towards the pool’s construction leaving the consortium to find the remaining £16 million either from private sector donations or grants and borrowing.

Peterborough City Council leader Councillor Shabina Qayyum vowed yesterday (March 26) that if necessary the local authority would be prepared to borrow the cash if necessary to get the pool built.

Afterwards, Mr Pakes said: “Peterborough desperately needs a new public pool and it is great that the government and council are working together to get this project built and opened by 2028.

He said: “We need to move at a breakneck pace to get this delivered and it is welcome the council is backing the plans through its capital programme.”

The new pool and leisure centre is earmarked to be built on a site next to the Peterborough Athletics Track and south of ARU Peterborough with the building linking into the Embankment.

Cllr Qayyum said: “It’s important for our residents to understand that there is a need for a pool in our city, not just for recreation, but because swimming is a life skill which is essential for our residents and school community too.

“It is common for councils to use capital funding (borrowing) to build new assets such as schools, roads and swimming pools.”

The proposals for the pool were jointly put together last summer by a consortium that includes both the city MPs, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), Peterborough City Council, ARU Peterborough, City of Peterborough Swimming Club, Friends of the Lido and Living Sport.

It is planned that Peterborough’s indoor swimming pool will be an eight-lane, 25 metre pool plus 20 metre learner and teaching pool that will also feature a cafe, a Tag Active soft play, health and wellbeing rooms, a 150-station fitness suite and two studios, plus a spin studio.

It will replace the former Regional Fitness and Swimming Centre and is expected to form part of a sports quarter at ARU Peterborough.

If the full £36.5 million cost of the project can be secured, construction work will start in early 2027, with completion in 2028.