First phase of £8.6m Health Hydro revamp to be completed by end of 2025

Work to bring Swindon’s historic Health Hydro back to life has seen “significant progress”, two years on from its closure.

The first phase of an £8.6m restoration is due to be completed by the end of the year and it is anticipated that the pool will reopen to the public in early 2026. Since the closure of the historic site in 2023, works have been progressing to make the site safe and to refurbish the former Washing Baths Hall, changing rooms and plant areas.

Once complete, the first phase of works will create an accessible route through to the newly-restored changing rooms and the main pool hall, which houses the 33m-long pool.

Due to the age of the Grade II* listed building, work has been slow on the project. Investigations – which were only possible after the building had been closed to the public – have revealed a series of challenges which have had to be overcome by redesign, with consideration given to the best approach to respect the building’s heritage. The controlled removal of asbestos has also added time to the programme. The site is owned by Swindon Borough Council and when completed, will be operated by leisure management company GLL.

According to councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, the restoration project is taking “longer than originally anticipated, but added that there is “light at the end of the tunnel”.

“Like many residents, I am desperate to see this beautiful building reopened to the public,” Strinkovsky said.

“The Health Hydro is a nationally significant heritage site and the story it embodies of workers self-organising to provide services to their community is one that should make all Swindonians proud.”

Progress is also being made on developing the next phase of works, which will focus on restoring the main pool hall.