Forest Hill Pools consultation begins
by Caroline Wilkinson | 28 Apr 2009
A public consultation on two redevelopment options for the Forest Hill Pools has begun in Lewisham, London, to help determine the future of the facility, which was closed in 2006.
It is the second round of consultations to be held on the development, after the council was forced to re-think designs last year following the adjacent Victorian Louise House receiving a Grade II listing by English Heritage. The listing meant that the council’s original plans to convert the site were no longer financially viable. With the redevelopment of the two-pool facility, the council aims to expand the number of pools to five across the borough to encourage physical activity among locals.
Lewisham Council has produced two separate designs for the consultation, with the help of HLM Architects and designers Pollard Thomas Edwards. The council estimates that both options would cost between £11m and £13m.
The consultation will consider two options; either postpone the development until 2012 in the hope further funding can be found, which means the earliest it can be completed is late 2015, or proceed now and build the centre on Willow Way (400m from the current site), with funding provided in part from a housing development bringing the completion date to late 2011. The council has reserved £9.5m to provide a 25m main pool, a separate learner pool, as well as a gym and a café. Depending on which option is chosen, raising the rest of the money could require either the completion and sale of a housing or commercial development (if the pool is moved) or a sustained period of fundraising (if the current site is used).
The first proposal includes the redevelopment of the Forest Hill Pools on its existing site, accompanying it with housing and incorporating the victorian frontage. The second option would switch the site, hosting the leisure centre on Willow Way and the housing development on the site of the existing pools. The consultation will end in June and a final decision is expected to be made by the mayor in July. A tendering process will then follow, although the timing will depend on which of the two options is chosen.
A public consultation on two redevelopment options for the Forest Hill Pools has begun in Lewisham, London, to help determine the future of the facility, which was closed in 2006. It is the second round of consultations to be held on the development, after the council was forced to re-think designs last year following the adjacent Victorian Louise House receiving a Grade II listing by English Heritage. The listing meant
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