New artist’s impressions of the revised plan for an open air pool on Brighton seafront which it’s hoped will be open by next spring have been unveiled today.
The images form part of Sea Lanes Brighton Ltd’s planning application for the Madeira Drive site, for which they renegotiated a shorter, five-year lease last year following uncertainty over the future of the Madeira Terraces.
It was then hoped the temporary pool would be open by this November – but that ambitious opening date has now been pushed back until spring, subject to the plans being approved.
The 25m pool and 39 accompanying commercial units will be built on the former Peter Pan playground site, next to Yellowave and opposite Concorde 2. A pop up will open on the site later this month featuring an endless pool (a small pool with a wave machine for swimmers to swim against), sauna and open-air event space featuring events such as silent yoga disco.
Simon Murie, Managing Director, of Swim Trek, the company driving the project, said: “Swim Trek is delighted to be part of the Sea Lanes project reigniting our sea swimming history; it is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on open water swimming, the fastest growing sport in the UK and we look forward to having the team here.
“We believe the Sea Lanes development will bring back to the forefront the rich swimming history that made Brighton and Hove the destination for tourists in the 19th Century.
“Using modular construction and meanwhile use, we will resurrect this much-loved part of the city and offer the local community and tourists a destination that captures the spirit of Brighton, past and present.”
Rich Brett, creative director of We Like Today, the team behind the proposal design, said: “Drawing on Brighton’s rich and colourful history and dazzling disregard for conformity, Sea Lanes meanwhile scheme can help revitalise the present and shape the future of Madeira Drive. Definitely and defiantly. This is the city with the natural edge.”
The pool, which will be accessible to all, is intended to act as a gateway for those looking to gain confidence to swim in the sea as well as a training hub for open water swimming events, triathlon, sea safety and lifeguard courses.
The small business units are suitable for retail, health and fitness, office space as well as a food court with street food kiosks and seating area.
The plans also include a new purpose-built headquarters for the SwimTrek, which also runs adventure swimming holidays.
As well as SwimTrek, Sea Lanes Brighton Ltd includes members of the Brighton Sea Swimming Club, Copsemill Properties and QED Sustainable Urban Developments.
OH NOOOOOOO!!!!! Their original plan was gorgeous. This is the cheapest and nastiest trashiest thing I have ever seen. How COULD they!? That visual noise is vile.
Looks fantastic.
FFS -its not what was originally planned. Cheap, nasty and a tiny 25 m pool.
If it is only for 5 years, then why not put it on Black Rock whilst awaiting the conference centre development and revitalise the current eyesore site.