REVISED plans for the new swimming pool in Kenilworth have been given the go-ahead.
Members of Warwick District Council’s planning committee approved amendments to the pool project, which will enable work to continue after medieval remains were found on the site at Abbey Fields.
The revised plans, to construct the swimming pool on top of the remains of the medieval buildings, will see the cost of the project increase from the original projected £14.7million to up to £22.6million.
Council chiefs originally agreed to proceed with a revised swimming pool at a meeting in November after being given several options about how to progress with the project after it was left hanging in the balance.
New plans for the pool had to be drawn up after remains – consisting of at least five buildings dating back to the 13th century – were found at Abbey Fields during work to demolish the previous pool in July last year.
One alternative put before councillors at the November Cabinet meeting was to pull the plug on the pool project on its current site and find an alternative location.
But WDC looked at the potential costs for an alternative site and the estimate came back as £26.7million – an increase of £12million.
The other option was to terminate the project to build a new swimming pool building for Kenilworth. This option would have meant that people in Kenilworth would have had to travel to other towns to swim.
WDC’s planning committee gave its approval to the finer details of the revised project when it met on Wednesday December 13, including raising the foundation level by 500metres, alterations to eaves height and some roof pitches, and minor changes to the approved drainage scheme to reflect the change in floor levels.
The new indoor swimming pool is part of a multi-million pound plan for a sports hall, gym and fitness studios, as well as a new HQ for local scouts and guides on the site of Castle Farm Recreation Centre, which will be renamed Castle Farm Leisure Centre.
It is set to replace the town’s, now closed, 125-year-old lido.
Building work should begin again in February and be completed by summer 2026.
