Valentines Park Lido

This old pool that pre-dated the lido boom of the 1930’s was demolished in 1995 but the great news is that Redbridge Council has passed the final hurdle of planning and work should start soon (autumn 2024) to build the replacement pool. It remains to be seen if the new pool will have the charm of the old one. This was yet another of my local pools that I never got to swim in, to my regret.

It was a privately owned pool but financial mismanagement in the early 1990’s lead to bankruptcy and the pool being taken over by the council who sanctioned its demolition.

The tender notice was published on 3rd July 2024 for a two-stage process, the first being the design. The contract delivery period is 1 year from 31st July 2024 so it seems the pool is planned for opening in August 2025. The pool will be a 25m, 6-lane main pool with infant splashpad (don’t you just love those), a gym, dance studio, meeting room, changing facilities and an outdoor family recreation area and cafe.

Wouldn’t it be great if the new pool opened on 2nd August 2025, exactly 101 years after the first?

Update May 2025 – well that 2nd august date is off the table as the scheme has gone back to planning for multiple revisions including reduction of the bathing area. I think this is probably the pool surround rather than the pool itself. Other changes are to the footprint of the buildings to allow for spa-type facilities.

Brand new Lido in east London gets planning permission

6 June 2024

Plans to deliver a new Lido, the first in London for decades, have taken a significant step forward.

Last night (Wednesday, 5 June 2024), Redbridge Council’s Planning Committee approved proposals to build a new Lido in Valentines Park. Construction is expected to begin later this year, and the facility is projected to be open to the public by autumn 2025, providing families with a new leisure facility to enjoy for years to come.

The brand-new facility will be close to Valentines Park’s original outdoor pool, which families across East London and Essex enjoyed from 1923 to 1995. The new Lido will provide a sustainable, fun, and social place for people to exercise outdoors while boosting the local economy and restoring the heritage of Valentines Park.

The new Lido will include the following facilities:

• 25-metre six-lane swimming pool
• Cafe
• Car parking
• Changing facilities
• Children’s splash pad
• Dance/exercise studio
• Gym
• Meeting room
• Outdoor recreation/picnic area

The new Lido is a testament to the Council’s commitment to sustainability, utilising the latest technology, including solar panels for energy generation, air-source heat pumps, water recycling systems, and energy-efficient lighting. These features will ensure sustainability and contribute to cost-efficiency, making the Lido a responsible and economically viable project.

Mark Baigent, Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture, said: “We’re delighted we can now move forward with plans to deliver the first new Lido in London for decades.

“The old Lido in Valentines Park holds a special place in the hearts of local people. It is where families enjoyed idyllic summer days right on their doorsteps and it is so exciting that after nearly 30 years, a brand new lido and more will be introduced in the park for people to visit and create new special memories.

“As a council, we will continue to invest in leisure facilities so local families and visitors can access everything they need right on our doorstep.”

Valentines Park is one of nine parks in the borough that received the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2023.