South London Swimming Club unveils transformative plans for Tooting Bec Lido

Plans to transform a South London lido with a new café, entrance, toilets, showers and changing facilities have been revealed. A local swimming club has put forward proposals to upgrade "tired" facilities at Tooting Bec Lido after consulting with locals.

South London Swimming Club (SLSC) has been working with WR-AP Architects on plans to improve facilities at the shallow end of the open-air pool. SLSC has drawn up final plans and an application is expected to be submitted to Wandsworth Council in spring. If this is approved, the club will look for funding to carry out the works.

The plans include building a new entrance to the lido with a reception, toilets, security accommodation and a café. The café would serve customers through two kisok hatches – one facing Tooting Common and the other facing the pool. The existing café would be revamped, subject to building surveys, to become a shelter in summer and clubroom in winter. Shower blocks would also be built on both sides of the building.

Gender neutral showers and family-changing facilities would be built around the pool's edge, while gender neutral toilets would be installed to the north of the site.

If approved, the upgrades would come in addition to the council's ongoing £3.8million revamp of the lido to protect the venue's future for the next 50 years. The lido has shut for around nine months from November last year to allow the works to be carried out.

The works include replacing the pumphouse and building a new electrical substation to power the pumps, installing a new pipework and filtration system, UV water purification system, pool liner and improved landscaping around the pool's edge.

A statement on SLSC's website said: "Work on the changes will not start until after the refurbishment for which the lido is currently closed. We are confident that it will be possible to phase the shallow-end work in such a way that there is no need to close the lido again."

A document from the club on the plans added that existing facilities at the lido are "tired, with insufficient facilities for busy days at the pool".

The 90-metre-long lido dates back to 1906 and is the biggest open-air freshwater pool in the UK. It usually opens to the public from April 1 to September 30 and is operated by the council's leisure centre contractor Places Leisure. The lido is used by SLSC in winter. It hosts the National Cold Water Swimming Championships every two years.

Labour councillor Judi Gasser, cabinet member for environment, said SLSC is an "important and valued partner in our work to improve and safeguard the future of our wonderful lido". She said the club's plans aim to "enhance and support the work we are doing to preserve and protect the lido for many decades to come".

SLSC and WR-AP Architects have been contacted for comment.