Soaring building costs have bumped up the budget for a new pool at Withdean to such an extent councillors need to approve giving the project extra cash.
The pool’s designs have also been tweaked to include single sex changing rooms as well as the gender neutral changing village included in the original plans.
Last year, members of the council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve plans for the five-lane, 25 metre community pool – the first new publicly funded swimming pool built in the city for around 40 years.
Procurement for the main building contract has also taken place, alongside work to discharge the necessary planning pre commencement conditions.
The council says the global economic crisis and impact on the construction industry created by conflict in the Middle East means the proposed construction costs have increased.
A spokesman said it wouldn’t disclose by how much until a week before December’s cabinet meeting, at which cabinet members are being asked to increase the budget.
Cabinet member for sports Alan Robins said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to provide a new swimming pool at Withdean, so it’s really important that we ensure it is delivered to meet the needs of the city and local community.
“Residents had a huge input in helping us shape the initial plans for the pool and, after listening to feedback, we have made some additional changes to the design.
“Swimming remains the most popular activity for our residents and, as a coastal city, so it’s great that our children and young people will benefit from a brand new pool and further opportunities to learn to swim.”
the original changing village plans were compliant with Sport England advice. The council said the new designs are based on the August 26 Equalities and Human Rights Commission guidance, which says single sex provision should be based on biological sex.
The project will be funded from a combination of Section 106 developer contributions and capital borrowing.
Plans for the pool were developed in response to the council’s Sports Facilities Investment Plan (SFIP) in a bid to meet the huge demand for more swimming facilities in the city.
Plans for the new facility were drawn up following a city-wide consultation and discussions with local swimming clubs, community organisations, a local primary school, the council’s Healthy Lifestyles Team, Freedom Leisure, which manages Withdean Sports Complex on behalf of the council, and the national governing body Swim England.
Poor and inadequate cost management which ultimately is the responsibility of Councillor Robins who should be held accountable.
Scrap the plans and use the savings to pay for the King Alfred inevitable overspend.
Another fail from cllr Robins who seems to have a doctorate in dithering .
Remember he is presiding over the Palmeira Square debacle and the KA ‘improvements’
Very glad to see that single-sex changing will be provided in the new swimming pool. The scandal of attacks on women and girls has been facilitated by mixed-sex changing villages. Women’s Rights Network research shows that 86-88% of sex crimes (voyeurism, illicit photography, sexual assaults) which took place in leisure centre changing rooms were in mixed-sex facilities. They are a danger. At a time when male violence against women and girls is at an all time high local councils have a safeguarding duty and providing mixed-sex only changing facilities is a failure of safeguarding.
Sounds like the Equalities and Human Rights Commission mandated some changes to the design, which caused the extra costs. I wonder if Cllr. Robins could be appealing to government for extra funding to accommodate these mandated changes?
Tweaked to include single sex changing rooms! We are living in crazy times. A gender neutral changing village! Really! Brighton is full of freaks and weirdos though!