Council advances plans for long-term investment in leisure across West Lancashire
West Lancashire Borough Council has approved the next stage of work to develop long-term investment plans for both Nye Bevan and Park Pool, following detailed feasibility work, condition surveys and financial assessments.
The decision follows months of detailed assessment work looking at the future of leisure provision in Nye Bevan and the condition of Park Pool, as well as opportunities to secure funding for future investment.
The Council has been reviewing its leisure facilities in response to rising maintenance costs, ageing buildings and increasing pressure on budgets at Nye Bevan and Park Pool, both of which play an important role in providing swimming, fitness and wellbeing facilities for residents.
The Council is also progressing discussions around a potential leisure investment package, including submitting a bid for the use of approximately £10.5 million in Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, helping to create a realistic pathway towards delivering future improvements.
Public consultation carried out in 2024 received more than 2,000 responses, where residents highlighted the importance of swimming facilities for families, schools, clubs and community groups.
In response, the Council agreed to keep both facilities operating while further work was undertaken to explore future investment options back in February 2025.
The latest feasibility study has confirmed that modern replacement leisure facilities at Nye Bevan can be delivered within an affordable and sustainable budget, providing the Council with a clear platform to move into detailed business case development.
Alongside the work at Nye Bevan, the Council has also agreed to develop a long-term investment strategy for Park Pool. This work will identify the most effective package of improvements to secure the future of the facility, improve efficiency and ensure it continues to serve residents for many years to come.
A programme of essential repairs has been identified, but the Council will now carry out additional work to explore whether a larger refurbishment programme could provide better long-term value by extending the life of the buildings, improving efficiency and reducing future maintenance costs.
Councillor Neil Furey, Committee Chair for Communities and Environment, said: “Residents have been clear that they want to see high-quality leisure facilities protected and improved across West Lancashire.
"The work completed over the last 18 months means we are now moving beyond simply considering options and into developing deliverable proposals for the future.
"For Nye Bevan, we now know that modern replacement facilities can be provided within a realistic funding framework. For Park Pool, we're developing a clear investment strategy to secure the long-term future of the centre.
"This is an important step forward and demonstrates our commitment to delivering sustainable leisure facilities that support health, wellbeing and communities across the Borough for future generations.”
The next phase of work will focus on developing deliverable investment proposals for both facilities, including a detailed business case for Nye Bevan and a long-term investment strategy for Park Pool.
The results will be brought together in a Leisure Investment Report which will be presented to Council in December 2026. This will provide Members with a clear and evidence-based investment programme capable of guiding future leisure investment decisions ahead of Local Government Reorganisation and future funding opportunities.
