Valentines Park Lido, London

Key Project Information

• First new lido to secure planning permission within London in decades   

• Part of a £11m investment project to boost leisure provision across the Borough. 

• Located within historic setting of Valentines Park, the largest green space within the London Borough of Redbridge 

• The facility will meet an identified demand for fitness and swimming pool provision and its accessible design will provide numerous health, community and wellbeing benefits. 

Valentines Park’s original lido closed in 1994 following rising costs and dilapidated facilities.  

We supported London Borough of Redbridge in its ambitions to provide a brand new lido, working with Wake Morley Architects, Encon Associates and specialist swimming pool consultant Jim Gordon Associates to devise a scheme that meets the identified need for leisure provision in the Borough, all while being sensitive to its surroundings. 

The scheme was approved at planning committee in June 2024, with the lido expected to open in Autumn 2025. 

Challenges overcome

Located within a Grade II listed Registered Park and Garden, and within the setting of the Valentines Mansion Conservation Area, the scheme had to be sensitive to these designated heritage assets. As the proposal results in the loss of an area of designated open space our planning case made sure to demonstrate the value of and need for the proposed facilities. 

We carried out comprehensive pre-application engagement with the Council, Design Review Pannel, Designing out Crime Officers, Historic England, Sport England and other key stakeholders. This directly informed the lido’s design, which reflects elements seen within the previous lido and the surrounding heritage assets. 

Furthermore, responses from our extensive community consultation – comprising in-person and online methods – also fed into the function, layout and design to protect residential amenity, and that the community are satisfied within the security arrangements integrated within the design. 

Scheme benefits

Valentines Park’s original lido closed as a result of ageing facilities and rising costs.  

Because of the extensive pre-application consultation we carried out, the approved scheme has significant community and stakeholder buy in, and its design is fit for purpose. The new facility will meet an identified demand for fitness and swimming pool provision, and its accessible design will reduce health inequalities and boost wellbeing. 

The facilities will also reduce CO2 emissions through onsite renewable energy provisions including solar panels, air-source heat pumps, water recycling systems and energy efficient lighting.   

The scheme provides: 

• A 25m, six-lane heated outside swimming pool 

• Children’s splash pad 

• Gym and studio 

• Flexible meeting space 

• Café with an external seating area 

• Cycle parking and quality soft landscaping