Twenty-four years after the original facility first opened, a swimming complex is set to be converted into an integrated destination for the community’s all-round wellbeing.
The English town of Basingstoke, just over an hour by train from London, is embracing the trend of blending swimming with wide-ranging wellness offerings. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Places Leisure have signed the contract that formally sets in motion the replacement of the town’s public swimming pool, which opened back in 2002.
The agreement marks the shift from the old swimming complex to a new development conceived as an integrated destination, one where swimming, fitness, family entertainment, wellness and racquet sports all share the same space.
A Multi-Experience Platform
The new complex will rise on a neighbouring site within the Leisure Park, the town’s leisure quarter, allowing the existing Aquadrome to stay open throughout construction — no small detail when it comes to keeping the service running for residents.
The project includes:
- a 25-metre, eight-lane competition pool (two lanes more than the current facility)
- a teaching pool for swimming lessons
- leisure waters complete with flumes
Yet it is other details that truly signal the shift in ambition. Wrapped around the pools is a range of facilities designed to draw in different audiences and different occasions for a visit: a modern gym and fitness studios, indoor play including Clip and Climb, party rooms and a café.
Rounding out the picture, still under consideration, are premium additions such as a health suite, Reformer Pilates and padel courts.
Unified Management: One Operator for the Whole Site
The change extends beyond bricks and mortar to the way the site will be run. From 1 January 2027, Places Leisure — which operates more than 90 leisure centres across the UK — will take over not only the future complex, but also the current Aquadrome, Basingstoke Golf Centre and Tadley Health and Fitness Centre.
Collective Wellbeing
The goal behind the conversion is not simply to replace the swimming pool, but to build a destination capable of inspiring people of all ages to become more active and healthier, delivering tangible benefits for the wellbeing of the whole community.
Timeline and Investment
Construction work is set to begin in 2027, with the new facility projected to open in 2029. The Council’s overall investment in the project has been put at around £60 million — the largest sum the town has committed to leisure in decades.
A Growing Trend
This project shows how local authorities are increasingly moving beyond simply replacing ageing municipal swimming pools, and instead designing genuine leisure hubs — places that bring sport, family days out and personal wellbeing under one roof. The aim is to keep visitors on site for longer, with knock-on benefits for the local economy too.
Image credits: BDBC
Sources: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk; https://ukpropertyforums.com/
