Plans for a new swimming pool at Withdean Sports Complex have moved a step forward with the appointment of a professional design team.
ReCreation, founded by three Olympic swimmers Becky Adlington OBE, Adrian Turner and Steve Parry MBE, has been selected to design the exciting new facility following a robust procurement process.
The company has an excellent track record as the leading provider of above-ground pools, from creating the concept in 2009 with Pools4Schools, to building the country’s first ever Olympic-length above-ground pool for the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham in 2019.
The team will develop the designs for the new facility, including how it will integrate with the existing leisure centre. The new designs will be shared with centre users and the local community before a full planning application is submitted early in the summer. If permission is granted, work could start in the early part of 2026.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member for Sports and Recreation, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to have reached this milestone and that plans for this much needed new swimming pool at Withdean are now moving forward.
“I’m delighted that ReCreation has been appointed to carry out the design work, which will move the project to the next stage.
“The company has successfully designed, supplied and delivered more than 90 pools across the country, and most importantly, has designed and delivered the exact structure and solution we want for our new 5-lane, 25m pool at Withdean Sports Complex.
“I look forward to seeing the plans and hearing the feedback from sports centre users and local residents.”
ReCreation will oversee a professional team with extensive experience in the sport and leisure sector. This will include experts from Box Architects, BWB, M&E building services and engineering consultant, Adept civil and structural engineers and GWB, QS and technical project managers.
Adrian Turner, director of ReCreation, said: “Our guarantee is a swimming pool that the community will love. We will be using the latest design and engineering technologies to develop a pool that will be warm, safe and inviting.
“For 11 years in a row, more pools in the UK have closed than opened, so we are thrilled to be reversing that trend with Brighton & Hove City Council.”
The team will also work closely with the council’s leisure operator, Freedom Leisure, to minimise disruption to Withdean Sports Complex, which will remain open and operational while the new pool is built.
Plans for the new community swimming pool have been developed in response to the council’s Sports Facilities Investment Plan (SFIP) in a bid to meet the huge demand for more swimming facilities in the city.
This follows on from the announcement in January that Alliance Leisure has been appointed to lead the design and build of a new sports and leisure facility to replace the ageing King Alfred Leisure Centre.
