Brighton & Hove City Council has approved plans for a new £7 million swimming pool at Withdean Sports Complex, marking the city’s first publicly funded pool in over 40 years.

🏊 The Project

• Location: Withdean Sports Complex, Tongdean Lane, Brighton.

• Design: A five‑lane, 25‑metre pool with modern changing rooms, a new reception area, and an overflow car park.

• Cost: £7 million, funded by the council.

• Timeline: Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with completion expected in 2027.

📋 Consultation & Community Input

• The plans followed a city‑wide consultation involving swimming clubs, community organisations, a local primary school, the council’s Healthy Lifestyles Team, Freedom Leisure (which manages the complex), and Swim England.

• Hundreds of residents attended drop‑in sessions at Withdean Sports Complex and Westdene Library, while nearly 1,000 people responded to an online survey.

• Feedback showed strong public support for more swimming provision in the city, especially for families and schools.

🌱 Sustainability Features

The pool has been designed with environmental impact in mind:

• Roof‑mounted solar panels.

• Air source heat pumps for energy efficiency.

• LED lighting and high‑insulation materials.

• Water‑saving technologies such as microfiltration.

• Wildlife‑friendly landscaping to support local biodiversity.

🚗 Parking & Objections

• The extension will reduce parking capacity by 12 spaces (from 309 to 297).

• 15 objections were submitted, citing concerns about traffic, parking, building design, and loss of trees.

• Supporters argued the benefits of improved sports facilities outweighed these issues.

📌 Significance

• This will be the first new publicly funded swimming pool in Brighton & Hove since the 1980s.

• It represents a major investment in community health, fitness, and leisure.

• Local councillors described it as a “once‑in‑a‑generation project” to expand access to swimming for all ages.