West Berkshire Council confirms refit of Newbury Lido will cost £700k more than first thought

The refit of Newbury Lido has busted its budget.

The project has increased by £700k.

The original cost was £5m but the council says it is confident no more cash will be needed – and no reduction in scope is anticipated.

It said the original budget was pulled together in late 2021.

“As the project has been firmed up and design progressed aspects have increased in costs either through additional aspects of the specification being considered or just through construction inflation,” said a spokesperson.

“A strategy to mitigate increased costs had been identified at the outset which was to remove items which had the lowest support from the public consultation.

“However this would have lessened the impact of the proposed project therefore an application to the Community Infrastructure Levy for an additional £735k was made and approved.

"We are confident that the new budget figure (as the project is now in full progress) will be met and no additional funding will be required.”

Work on the lido started last summer, and is expected to be finished by this summer.

Refurb plans will see the lido size reduced from 72m to a 50m Olympic length pool, with a new toddler splash pad and racer slides.

It will also be shallower, at 1.5m, to allow for easier maintenance, and there will be improved changing facilities, including new ones for disabled access.

The aim of the project is to increase the duration of the outdoor swimming season from its current ten to twelve weeks per year to a period of six months, from Easter through to September.