Cleveland Pools project receives National Lottery Covid-19 emergency funding boost

Donald Insall Associates’ project at The Cleveland Pools in Bath has received a welcome boost with the news that it has been awarded £56,300 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The grant is to assist with the effect that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the restoration project, including its development, adapting to home working and altering important community engagement projects.

The funding was awarded through the NLHF’s Heritage Emergency Fund, which has made £50 million available as emergency funding to heritage projects in need across the country.

The Grade II* listed Cleveland Pools is a 200 year-old Georgian lido located in the World Heritage Site of Bath; it is currently on Historic England’s  ‘Heritage at Risk’ register following its closure as swimming baths in 1984. Much of the original 1815 fabric survives in an un-altered condition.

Work on-site, which was due to begin in 2020, has been delayed until the spring of next year. The nature of the site- which is tucked away behind a row of terraced houses, adjacent to the River Avon- will mean relying on the river as a primary mode of transporting machinery and materials. The short delay to the restoration project will allow the team to start on site in the new year, avoiding the worst of the wintery weather. The Pools are scheduled to open for swimming in summer 2022.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Cleveland Pools Trust during this uncertain time.”

Paul Simons, Chair of the Trust said: “The Cleveland Pools Trust is immensely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its continuing support and confidence in the project team in its efforts to move forward and deliver this unique project. We are all working in unprecedented circumstances and the Trust is delighted with the encouragement and assistance that it is receiving from its major funder.”