A major redevelopment of the lido at Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury has been completed following a £5.7 million investment.

Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and developed by Alliance Leisure working in partnership with Myrtha Pools and Universal Civils & Build through the UK Leisure Framework, the new outdoor facilities include a 50 metre, Olympic length outdoor swimming pool, a splash pad and fun slides, beach hut style changing rooms, a sun terrace and a relaxation area, all of which are fully accessible.

Greg Walker, Business Development Manager at Alliance Leisure, said: "It's fantastic to see so many people enjoying this amazing space again. There has been a lido on this site since 1870 so it’s part of the local DNA.

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"The original pool was affected by ground water levels, which, over the years, undermined the integrity of the structure and became increasingly expensive to maintain. Now that the pool has been re-engineered with the benefit of modern-day learnings and technologies, families will be able to enjoy the many physical, mental and social benefits of this amazing facility for generations to come."

It is forecast that the new facilities, opened on the 21st August 2023, will accommodate 50,000 attendances each season.

Kevin Burns, UK business development manager at Myrtha Pools, said: "Like most lidos across the country, modern technology is affording leisure operators the chance to redevelop and plan for the future.

"The new pool benefits from our precision engineered chromium-rich steel technology, which futureproofs the lido for decades to come, both in terms of ongoing maintenance costs and sustainability savings. This project is a prime example of how existing facilities can be renovated and improved upon, without beginning a new build process from scratch, which is increasingly important as council’s and leisure operators look to optimise budgets."

In addition to attracting more visitors to the facility through the inclusion of the splash pad, main pool, slides, residents will now also enjoy an extended season.