Road to restore Broomhill Lido in Ipswich very long

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer said that the restoration of Broomhill Lido could "offer the town so much" and remains hopeful that a solution can be found.

Plans to restore the Broomhill Lido, a grade-II listed outdoor swimming pool in north Ipswich, were approved for a second time in December 2024.

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer (Image: Office of Patrick Spencer)

However, work has not taken place yet due to funding complication when the chosen operator, Fusion Lifestyle, could not demonstrate their financial viability post-Covid leading to National Lottery Heritage to pull their funding for the project.

In January, Mr Spencer called for funding for the project to be prioritised as part of Ipswich Borough Council's pride in place scheme and discussed the long-standing plans for the project with the council's CEO Helen Pluck.

He said: "It never ceases to amaze me how often a resident will mention in passing their hope to see the Broomhill Lido restored. Young and old, from every background, everyone feels that the lido would offer so much to our town and local community in North Ipswich.

Broomhill Lido has been vacant since 2002 (Image: Newsquest)

"Over recess I made representations to Ipswich Borough Council on behalf of my residents who want to see progress on restoring the lido. The pool has been sitting dormant for almost one quarter of a century, its about time we did something about it.

"After the decision by the Heritage Lottery to pull funding, the road to restore the lido is very long indeed. I am hopeful though that with Ipswich Borough Council we can find a solution quickly".

At the start of the year, the chairman of the Broomhill Lido trust Mark Ling warned that work on the Broomhill Lido must begin by the end of next year or the plans were at risk of 'unravelling'.

Restoration of the Broomhill Lido explained

The Grade-II listed Broomhill Lido was built in the 1930s, serving the community of north Ipswich until it closed in 2002.

In 2019, plans to restore the lido were approved by Ipswich Borough Council after years of campaigning.

However, work did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the three year time limit on work expiring in 2022.

Plans were then resubmitted and approved in December 2024, with funding from Ipswich Borough Council, National Lottery Funding (NLF) and Fusion Lifestyle.

But the NLF pulled out of the project in 2025 after Fusion Lifestyle could not prove its financial viability putting the plans into doubt.