London is poised to welcome its first new council-run lido in decades, following the approval of plans by Redbridge Council's planning committee.

The new lido will be constructed in Valentines Park, Ilford, east London, with construction slated to begin later this year and an anticipated opening by autumn 2025 at the earliest.

Currently, London boasts 15 lidos, as recorded by All The Lidos, an organization that tracks outdoor swimming pools across the UK. The upcoming facility will be located near the original Valentines Park outdoor pool, which was operational from 1923 until 1995.

While London has seen the reopening of several lidos in recent years, such as Charlton Lido, which closed in 1989 and reopened in 2013, the creation of entirely new outdoor swimming pools has been rare. The new Valentines Park lido will feature a six-lane pool, a children’s splash pad, a dance studio, and a gym.

Although the entrance fee is not within the planning committee's jurisdiction, it was mentioned during the meeting that the lido would have pricing comparable to other leisure center pools in the borough. The project is part of an £11 million investment by Redbridge Council into local leisure facilities. Last year, Council leader Jas Athwal told the Evening Standard that the lido would cost no more than £4 million.

During a 22-day consultation in April, eight residents objected to the scheme, arguing that building on a green space used for "walking and observing nature" was unacceptable. However, the council maintained that the site was "under-utilized."

Following the lido's approval, Mark Baigent, the council’s corporate director of regeneration and culture, remarked, "The old lido in Valentines Park holds a special place in the hearts of local people."

The new facility will also include a café and promises to become a beloved addition to the community, much like its predecessor. Photo by Ewan Munro from London, UK, Wikimedia commons.