Multi-million-pound plans to refurbish a Victorian lido in a stunning UK seaside town will restore a “significant and unique” asset to the area. The Grade-II listed lido in Grange-over-Sands, a seaside resort near the Lake District in Cumbria, is one of just four listed coastal lidos in England and remains the earliest and most complete 20th century example of its kind in the country. While the picturesque seaside town has fared better than its competitors amid cost-of-living demands and the decline of UK high streets, officials hope that investing millions into restoring the distinctive attraction will further boost footfall.
Despite its independent shops and cafes continuing to welcome hordes of visitors over the last few decades, the town’s lido has fallen into disrepair since its closure in 1993 – with stagnant water and weeds springing up around the once-packed out pool. Plans to inject new life into the facility were launched back in April 2023 before hitting stumbling blocks including the need for unforeseen structural repairs, but Westmoorland and Furness Council insists it is committed to completing the £6.8million project, which also includes a revamp of the surrounding promenade.
The refurbishment was originally allocated around £5 million for repairs to the lido and promenade – before extra work to protect the 93-year-old swimming site from structural damage was estimated to cost an additional £1.8 million.
The work will include new space in the central pavilion building, an accessible entrance from the promenade and a new “removable landscape feature” inside the pool area.
New changing rooms have already been built, the council said, alongside “significant structural and architectural works” including repairs to the saltwater pool’s diving board structure and a new playground area.
Council leader Jonathan Brook said it was unlikely the lido would reopen this summer, but stressed the need for careful restoration of the historic facility after 30 years of closure.
“The lido is a significant and unique asset,” he said. “It is important that we get this right, understanding that the lido project seeks to restore this important structure.
“With the vast majority of work on the lido and promenade completed, they look fantastic, and I can’t wait to open the lido to the public after decades of it being lost to the community.”
Grange-over-Sands’ reliable tourist trade can be linked to its proximity to the world-famous Lake District – offering a relaxed rural idyll for tourists exploring England’s largest national park.
Surrounded by countryside, and with a traditional Grade-II listed train station among its intact Victorian and Edwardian gems, the town’s lido was one of many boons for visitors in its heyday – providing an alternative to the town’s salt marsh beaches, which are more hazardous to swimmers than sandy coastlines.
Ahead of the lido reopening, there’s still plenty to do and see in the area – with award-winning stately home Holker Hall just a short drive away, alongside Cartmel, the picture-postcard village widely considered the home of sticky toffee pudding.