Historic Pool in Portsmouth Is Being Demolished: A Water Park Will Replace It.

Demolition of Historic Pool for New Water Park

According to The Sun: Demolition work has begun at the site of the former pool, which is planned to be replaced by a new water park. The project includes elements of kitesurfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.

The century-old establishment where heroes of World War II were trained A feature film about the Royal Marines' military mission was also shot in the pool in the 1950s Structural defects have been found on the walls and roof of the building The decision to demolish the pool was made last week

History of Eastney Pool

Eastney Pool in Portsmouth was closed during the Covid pandemic in 2020. It first opened in 1904 and did not reopen. The local council described it as an obsolete building in a dangerous condition.

However, activists have attempted to contest the council's decision to demolish it.

They propose the construction of a new leisure center in Bransbury Park.

The council representatives pointed to serious "defects" that rendered the pool "outdated." In a statement, the Portsmouth council noted:

“We understand that the Eastney pool was important to some residents. However, the building, closed since 2020, was in poor condition, inaccessible, and unfit for use.”

The decision to demolish was taken in accordance with all relevant procedures, considering reports and public objections. “Historic England” twice declined to list it as a heritage asset, and the estimated £8 million reconstruction costs were deemed unjustified.

The demolition plan received approval on October 1. The new development is expected to include facilities such as changing rooms, storage areas, showers, and a restaurant.

“This has been our ambition for many years, so we are pleased to see progress on this project,”

— said Portsmouth Council leader Steve Pitt.

The council has also allocated £100,000 for the demolition of the historic pool.

According to the council report: “The demolition does not fall under any of the categories where development is not permitted.”

A new leisure center is being built in Bransbury Park to replace outdated facilities

Work on the new leisure center in Bransbury is scheduled to start early next year as part of a £23.4 million project. It will include a four-lane 25-meter swimming pool, a teaching pool, a medical clinic for patients on Devonshire Avenue, fitness studios, multipurpose studios, and a children's playground.

The updates at the site of the former Eastney Pool mark the completion of an important milestone in Portsmouth's sports and recreation infrastructure development. The new water park replacing the historic structure is set to become a modern center for active leisure, catering to the needs of local residents. The project is expected to provide new opportunities for sports and aquatic leisure activities.