Work to refurbish and transform Plymouth’s Tinside Lido will get under way next week, following a fun-packed summer.
The Grade II-listed site recently closed its doors after celebrating a season finale weekend of free swim sessions and a doggy paddle for Seafest.
Tinside is one of three key ‘gateways’ to the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, which aims to help people enjoy being in, on, under and beside the sea.
Its £4.5 million refurbishment is designed to open up new spaces and is being funded by grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (as part of the Horizons Project), Youth Investment Fund, Levelling Up Fund and Plymouth City Council.
Improvements will include:
- the creation of a multi-purpose youth, community and events space on the derelict first floor of the main Lido building
- a revamp of the single-storey building between the lido and Tinside Cove to provide a base where youth workers, rangers and volunteers can introduce young people to opportunities created by the National Marine Park
- a renovation of the terrace on top of the main building to include a new public seating area, with a coffee pod and multi-purpose event space overlooking the sound
The new contemporary spaces are designed to attract new visitors, support youth work and community use and help generate income from commercial events and conferences.
They will enable youth workers and partners to engage with young people and equip them with skills by providing an open doorway to blue tech, innovation and creative industries as well as a safe space for exploring blue health benefits.
Council Leader Tudor Evans said: said: “Many will see Tinside Lido as the jewel in the crown of our National Marine Park and the renewal of this iconic building will breathe new life into Plymouth’s historic waterfront. This investment will create a modern, dynamic space that can be enjoyed by even more people, as well as truly celebrate the city’s relationship with the sea.”
Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Councillor Leader and Cabinet member with responsibility for children’s social care, culture and events, added: “This is an amazing opportunity to work with and support young people, increasing children and young people’s positive engagement in the city’s green and blue spaces.
“It enables us to offer more fun and engaging activities for young people, developing their confidence and skills in these environments. It is also a fantastic and fun way to highlight the training and employment opportunities that are developing in Plymouth’s growing blue and green economy.”
Rhys Jones, Chief Operating Officer for Plymouth Active (the Council-owned company that runs Tinside), said it plays a ‘vital role’ in the life of the city. He added: "This investment will help ensure the lido can cater for the needs of young people, community groups and commercial events so it can continue to flourish, by supporting the community and the local economy for generations to come.”
Construction work will begin on site on Tuesday 1 October, with works expected to finish by Spring 2025. Contractor Nevada Construction has completed initial enabling works, including waterproofing and installation of safety railings to the terrace.
While the work should not be noisy and dust will be contained within the hoardings around the site, a small number of car parking/taxi spaces will be needed for building material deliveries. Details can be found on the hoardings along the street and colonnade levels.