£3.8 million revamp planned for Peterborough’s 1970s-built Jack Hunt Swimming Pool

The funding is deemed to be vital for the pool, which was built in the 1970s, to prevent unplanned closures in the future.

The proposed works will include a modernisation of the plant room, replacing lighting, renewing the pool tank, refurbishing changing rooms for improved accessibility and inclusivity, upgrading the air handling system, and implementing fire safety enhancements.

Members of Peterborough City Council’s ruling cabinet are to be asked to approve a funding request of £2,200,000 for the refurbishment and which is to be supported by a £794,000 grant from Sports England.

Councillors will meet on July 21 to approve the funding request to revamp the pool in Ledbury Road, Netherton.

The work is expected to start in Spring 2027 and be completed by September 2027.

A report by officers to the meeting states: “This project has been initiated due to a number of operational maintenance issues that require capital investment in order to prevent unplanned closures.”

If the funding is agreed, the refurbishment will mean a closure of about 24 weeks.

Councillors will also be told the impact of the closure is expected to result in a maximum of £375,000 business interruption losses claims from the leisure services operator.

It is intended to liaise with users to see if they can be relocated during the works.

The report adds: “This is driven by a critical need to sustain a vital community asset that supports health, wellbeing, and social inclusion in Peterborough.

"The pool, originally constructed in the 1970s, is the only publicly accessible swimming facility within the local authority, providing essential services such as school swimming, learn-to-swim programmes, public sessions, and community hire.

"Failure to invest in this asset will result in operational property issues which will further result in unplanned closures.”

Cllr Zameer Ali, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “We know from all the feedback we receive from residents how vital it is that we have high-quality swimming facilities in our city.

"That is why, alongside the plans for the new Leisure Centre and indoor swimming pool we also want to invest in our other existing pools to make sure they can be enjoyed by swimmers of all ages for many years to come.

“Jack Hunt is a very well-used and well-loved facility both by local swimming clubs, school pupils and the local community.

"However, it was built in the 1970s, after almost 50 years there are parts of the facilities that desperately need attention and need updating, replacing and modernising so the pool can continue to be enjoyed for swimmers for many years into the future.

“We cannot afford to lose an asset like this which would deprive residents, especially children and young people, of essential opportunities for physical activity, skill development, and social engagement.

“These works are part of our wider investment in our swimming facilities that we are carefully scheduling in to ensure there will always be public swimming facilities available in the city throughout all the works.

“This investment shows that our administration is fully committed to providing quality leisure facilities in Peterborough.”

The Jack Hunt Pool proposals follow Cabinet agreeing to refurbishment works at Vivacity Premier Fitness at its last meeting in June.