Winchester City Council approves Sea Lanes lido bid
Winchester City Council's Cabinet has agreed the recommendation of a bid which includes a lido as the best option for the future of the former leisure centre site. The bid submitted by Sea Lanes, who have developed and manage open water swimming attractions in Brighton and Canary Wharf, includes an ambitious plan which will create a health, wellbeing and recreation destination in the heart of Winchester city centre.
Following a comprehensive marketing and evaluation process, Cabinet agreed that Sea Lanes' proposal offered the best overall outcome for residents and will transform the site into a vibrant community asset, whilst protecting surrounding green spaces and complementing the existing and established recreation and sports facilities at River Park.
The Sea Lanes proposal includes: a heated outdoor swimming pool, outdoor padel courts, café and a free-to-use splash pad facility for children.
The decision means that the Sea Lanes proposal can move to the next stage which includes entering an option agreement so they can then progress a planning application. Subject to planning approval and meeting agreed conditions, the council will then grant a 250-year lease to allow the project to proceed.
Councillor Martin Tod, Leader of Winchester City Council, said: “The decision we took is the first step on the journey. The next steps are in Sea Lanes' hands as they finalise their planning application and submit it to the council.
"One thing I do know is that the proposal has a lot of public interest and support. The idea of a lido has gone down a storm locally. And, from a council point of view, the rest of the Sea Lanes submission was also really compelling.
"Ultimately, this decision is good for the city and good for the council - and we now have a really a fantastic opportunity for Sea Lanes to bring something really special to our city."
The council's assessment considered a wide range of factors, including financial value, deliverability, planning compliance, social value, environmental performance and economic impact. The Sea Lanes proposal achieved the highest overall quality score of all bids assessed and demonstrated strong alignment with the council's priorities.
Harry Smith, Director of Sea Lanes, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a new lido to Winchester and to create a destination that will provide significant benefits for both the local residents and visitors to the city. Our proposal combines high-quality leisure facilities with a strong commitment to health, wellbeing and community access. We look forward to working with Winchester City Council and the community to develop plans that create a vibrant and sustainable leisure destination that the city can be proud of for many years to come.”
Sea Lanes will now develop detailed proposals and submit a planning application, which will be subject to formal public consultation via the normal planning process.