How Peterborough residents can have say on new swimming pool plans for the city centre

Peterborough residents can have their say on the initial plans for a new leisure centre and swimming pool in the city.

At a Peterborough City Council cabinet meeting in October, members approved plans for a new eight lane 25 metre swimming pool and fitness centre as their preferred option, subject to funding being secured.

It came after Peterborough’s Regional Pool closed in 2024 which exacerbated the previous shortfall in provision.

In November 2025, the government announced it would provide a £20 million contribution towards the new development for Peterborough, subject to the approval of a full business case which is currently being worked on.

With the cost of the new city centre pool likely to be in the region of £38 million, the council said it would also explore funding opportunities from Sport England, Living Sport, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, and private opportunities.

If the full £38 million can be secured, construction work is scheduled to start early in 2027, with completion expected in the summer of 2028.

The council is currently in the design phase for the project, working closely with Alliance Leisure, with the submission of a planning application to follow next year.

Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum previously said: “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.”

The proposed facility would also include poolside and balcony seating, a 20 metre four lane learner pool with moveable floor, a café, softplay, health and wellbeing suite, community room and health rooms, as well as a fitness suite with 150 stations and studios.

How residents can have their say on the plans

Public consultation on a new pool will take place next year, ahead of a planning application being submitted.

To inform the early design stages, the council is running a series of social media polls to gauge initial views on topics such as how people would access it, and what they would like to see included.

These polls are available on the council’s ‘Have your say’ Facebook group.

Some questions already posed to residents include:

How do you currently use the Embankment area?

How do you feel about using or visiting the Embankment?

How important would onsite parking be for you when considering whether to use a new leisure development and pool?

How would you be most likely to access a new leisure development and pool on the Embankment?

In which way would you be most likely to use a leisure development and pool?

How likely would you be to increase your physical activity if there was a new leisure development with pool in Peterborough?