£4m Pool Redevelopment Opens in South Norfolk
British Paralympic swimmer Jessica-Jane Applegate and council Chair Sharon Blundell cut the ribbon at the opening of Diss Swim Centre, which has undergone extensive improvements to ensure the facility serves the community for many years to come.
Delivered by Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework (owned by Denbighshire Leisure), the project brought together a team of specialist suppliers, locally sourced where possible, combining quality craftsmanship with a focus on supporting the local economy.
Alliance Leisure assembled a team of leisure specific partners. These included Saunders Boston Architects, Real Consulting providing PM and QS services with Principal Contractor DDi Projects supported by KGO Electrical and Woodwards Mechanical. Long-standing council supplier and pool development experts, Hydrospec handled the pool reprofiling and plant room upgrade. Acting as development partner, Alliance Leisure provided a single point of contact for the council, overseeing the project from start to finish.
“Diss Swim Centre has been a cornerstone of the local community since the 1950s, originally as an outdoor lido,” explains Steven Peet, Strategic Leisure Development Manager at South Norfolk Council. “This significant investment has modernised the facility to meet the needs of today’s users, securing its future for many years to come.”
“Children and adults benefit from swimming lessons at the centre with thousands of families enjoying time together during our open swim sessions. With the adaptions to the pool and extended changing facilities we have improved the overall experience for all our visitors as well as increasing capacity for swimming sessions and classes. These improvements, alongside the previous PSDS energy efficiency works, have safeguarded the future of the facility.”
In the pool area, upgrades included reprofiling the main pool tank to enhance programming, making it ideal for lessons and classes—re-rendering and tiling, and modernising the pool plant to enhance water quality and additional equipment to improve accessibility. The changing areas were expanded into a larger, more accessible changing village with a new viewing area integrated to improve visibility for parents. Updates to the entrance lobby and reception area also deliver a more welcoming environment.
Prior to this phase of works, the council had also secured £1. 2 million from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme of PSDS funding to deliver carbon efficiencies to support the council in the achievement of its 2030 net cardon ambitions. These works were delivered directly by the council and included upgrades to the building fabric via cladding and insulation, the removal of fossil fuels from the site, the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps and solar panels on the roof.
Steven Peet continues:
It’s fantastic to see the community enjoying the upgraded facilities. This project came with unique challenges due to the site’s long history, with the pool having undergone multiple adaptations over the years. A lack of technical information and unforeseen issues, such as the need to replace defective flooring in the changing area, added complexity.
Alliance Leisure and the project team tackled every challenge with expertise, delivering cost-effective and timely solutions. Their experience was instrumental in supporting completing the works for our reopening date —something we could not have achieved with a less seasoned team.
