Portsmouth has a potential opportunity to create a new watersports centre in the south-east of the city, on the site of the closed Eastney Swimming Pool. This ambition was set out in the Council’s Seafront Masterplan in 2013 and was also included in the updated plan in 2021.
This area of the seafront has become a hotspot for kiteboarding and kitesurfing over the past decade, leading to the city hosting the Formula Kite European Championships in 2023.
Creating a watersports centre will establish a hub for these sports, alongside others such as open water rowing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Participants in these sports could have facilities to change, leave their valuables, and shower afterwards.
It could also open an area of the seafront that has been previously inaccessible, allowing access to the listed World War II pillbox currently hidden on the site. The listed World War II anti-tank defences could also be sensitively incorporated into the design.
The Council will be consulting with the public on what they would like to see as part of the centre. This could include a café, a restaurant, creative studios, or retail space as part of the mix of facilities on offer. The consultation will begin from April this year.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “We have a real opportunity here to potentially create a watersports facility that the community can be proud of. With investment in a new leisure centre at Bransbury Park, renovation work at Mountbatten Centre, and the regeneration of Hilsea Lido, we are demonstrating that we are serious about sport in the city. I’m looking forward to hearing what facilities for watersports the public want to see in the future.”
Eastney Swimming Pool, which is currently on the site, has been closed permanently since 2020. The poor condition of the building means that it presents a significant danger to staff and the public. Multiple surveys have shown the 120-year-old building is in very poor condition, with extensive structural issues with the walls and roof. The pool structure is cracked and is now filling up with groundwater.
To renovate the building to make it safe to use for another purpose would be extremely expensive, not appropriate for a watersports centre, and a poor use of public money. Historic England has also declined to list the building on two occasions, as it does not have any special architectural and historic interest required for it to be listed.
Following the decision made today, the Council will apply for planning permission to demolish this building. Brand new swimming facilities, including a learner pool, will be available in nearby Bransbury Park when the new leisure centre and GP surgery are completed in 2027.
