Extra £1.4m approved for leisure centre upgrade

Hull City Council’s Cabinet has approved a request to increase the capital budget allocated for Albert Avenue Pools’ multi-million-pound refitting and refurbishment project.

The additional £1.4m will now mean the new heated lido specification will create an improved experience for users, as well as meeting international standards that will be able to accommodate top-level kayak polo and competitive swimming.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “After already planning to bring back the city’s only lido in over 30 years, we’ve today gone a step further to ensure the facility is the best in the region.

“These additions will mean sports clubs, including the Kingston Kayak Club, will be able to hold sports events such as water polo matches there, something that hasn’t been possible before.

“We know there is a lot of anticipation from residents on the return of the facility and look forward to seeing the centre back open, along with a new state-of-the-art gym and fitness studio.

“This investment demonstrates our commitment to providing the best leisure facilities for our residents, with Albert Avenue following in the footsteps of Woodford and Ennerdale leisure centres, as well as Beverley Road Baths, all of which have been refurbished recently.”

Built in 1958, the original lido was popular with residents from across the city, but closed more than 30 years ago. The city’s only other lido, in East Park, closed in 1988 after being used for 24 years.

Alongside the new lido, the project at Albert Avenue Pools will see the construction of a large gym and fitness studio, the refurbishment and redecoration of the whole building, and the replacement of all the mechanical and electrical systems, along with new heating and ventilation systems.

Work on site will begin at the end of this month, with the centre expected to reopen to the public in summer 2023.