‘Tired’ Greenwich swimming pool set for £380k makeover
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
An ‘ageing’ swimming pool is set to receive a major facelift after Greenwich council agreed to spend over £380,000 on the facility to prevent its closure.
The authority has greenlit plans to spend grant funding on replacing gas boilers that have been at Thamesmere Leisure Centre for over 20 years.
The pool in Thamesmere Drive, Thamesmead, will receive a new combined heat and power system alongside a replacement boiler system. Council documents said the total cost of the works is expected to be £383,622 following a quote secured by the operator of the leisure centre, Greenwich Leisure Limited.
Council officers said in their report: “Thamesmere Leisure Centre is over 36 years old and there are ongoing issues with the ageing plant and could result in closure.”
The investment comes from a Sport England grant as part of the body’s swimming pool support fund. Labour Councillor Ann-Marie Cousins, cabinet member for equality, culture and communities, approved the proposal on Monday, October 28, with the works being expected to be completed by April next year.
Officers said in their report that the project will improve the reliability of the pool and extend the life of the asset overall. Elsewhere in Greenwich, work on the new leisure centre in Woolwich town centre has progressed, with the facility set to replace the Waterfront centre when it opens next year.
The news of the funding in Thamesmead follows confirmation earlier this year from Bromley council that two leisure centres in the borough would benefit from a £29 million upgrade.
The works will see the Walnuts Leisure Centre in Orpington receiving improvements to its gym and pool, with works expected to begin in January next year before reopening in early 2026.
This comes alongside renovations at the West Wickham Leisure Centre that are due to finish in spring 2026, including a new café and improved pool facilities.
Pictured top: Thamesmere Leisure Centre (Picture: Google Street View)