St Albans Lido

In Feb 2021 we were approached by St Albans City and District Council to look at options for their open air pool at Cottonmill Lane, south of the City. The pool stands next to the River Ver and is still in use, unlike virtually all of the dozens of Local Authority-owned lidos nationwide.
Like most though, it struggles to balance costs of running and maintenance and the Local Authority therefore sought to explore ways in which to resolve this. These included options to build or rebuild on substantial areas around the pool, either as associated facilities such as restaurant, spa and other facilities such as sauna and steam rooms all of which can form complimentary partners to the pool itself. There was also the possibility of a limited residential build profits from which could subsidise the costs of works to and around the pool.

We prepared a Feasibility Study with a variety of options and recommendations and occasionally we hear of possible progress. A change of Local Government to Lib Dem control in 2021 was a hopeful development but since then we have not heard.