Kirkham Swimming Pool has been a valued community facility for many years. This page provides information about the pool’s closure, the steps taken since, and plans for its future.
Following a historic £9.3 million investment approved by Full Council in January 2026, Kirkham Baths is set to reopen. The Council is working with Places Leisure to deliver a fully restored facility with a reconditioned pool, new fitness suite, and refurbished changing rooms.
These images are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change.
Current Status – April 2026
Fylde Council’s Full Council approved a £9.3 million investment package on 27 January 2026 – the most ambitious leisure investment in the Council’s history. Kirkham Baths will be fully restored with a reconditioned pool, new fitness suite, and completely refurbished changing rooms. The main pool will continue to be at the heart of the facility, providing swimming lessons, lane swimming, and community swimming sessions for residents of all ages and abilities. Historic features will be protected where possible.
Preparatory works began on 9 February 2026, with local contractor Warden Construction carrying out a seven-week programme of enabling works at the site. This included the installation of internal scaffolding to allow the safe removal of old fixtures and fittings, specialist asbestos removal, and structural surveys to fully assess the building’s condition. The information gathered during this phase will be fundamental in shaping the detailed plans for the Baths’ restoration.
Places Leisure, part of the UK’s leading social enterprise Places for People, has been appointed to deliver and operate the facility under a 15-year contract. Places Leisure formally took over operations on 1 April 2026, with design and pre-commencement work now underway. Further details on construction timescales and phasing will be announced in the coming months as plans progress.
The investment is subject to the outcome of detailed condition surveys currently underway. The Council has committed to progressing with Kirkham provided the surveys confirm the works can be delivered within an affordable budget.
Timeline: Key Milestones
The timeline below shows the key developments since Kirkham Pool’s closure. Click on each milestone to expand and read more details.
Places Leisure formally took over operations on 1 April 2026. Design and pre-commencement work is now underway, with construction phasing to be confirmed in the coming months.
Local contractor Warden Construction began a seven-week programme of enabling works on 9 February 2026. Works included internal scaffolding, specialist asbestos removal, and structural surveys to assess the building’s condition ahead of the main restoration.
Fylde Council’s Full Council approved a transformative £9.3 million package on 27 January 2026. The investment will see Kirkham Baths fully restored with a reconditioned pool, new fitness suite, and refurbished changing rooms, and St Annes Pool completely modernised. Places Leisure was confirmed as operator for both sites under a 15-year contract.
Places Leisure has been appointed as the preferred bidder for the new Fylde Leisure Management Contract. The council is exploring investment options as part of this contract that could enable the opening of Kirkham Pool.
Decision making is currently underway, with final contract details including whether Kirkham Pool will be refurbished and reopened to be confirmed by the end of January 2026 following approval at Full Council.
Kirkham Pool was included in the competitive tender process for leisure management across the borough, alongside St Annes Swimming Pool. The tender invited operators to submit proposals for potential restoration if affordable options could be identified that allow investment across both sites.
Fylde Council officially regained ownership of the Kirkham Pool site. The approved funding enabled urgent preservation works to begin, protecting the building from further deterioration while future plans are developed.
The Executive Committee allocated an additional in annual revenue funding for ongoing site security and monitoring, in addition to approximately £50,000 in existing costs. The Council also approved £150,000 in capital investment for essential preservation works to protect the building from further deterioration.
An Expression of Interest was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. While this application was not successful, the council continues to explore funding opportunities to support potential restoration.
Following the CIC’s withdrawal, Fylde Council’s Executive Committee approved plans to acquire Kirkham Pool from the YMCA for a nominal sum of £1. This decision demonstrated the council’s commitment to preserving the facility and exploring future options for swimming provision.
An Expression of Interest period ran from April to May 2024, inviting voluntary and community bodies to submit proposals. One Community Interest Company (CIC) submitted a business plan, which the council worked to support and develop. However, in December 2024, the CIC withdrew from the process, citing challenges in developing a sustainable business model.
The YMCA submitted a Disposal Plan to Fylde Council as required under the 2009 agreement. Following discussions between the council and YMCA, a plan was agreed in March 2024 that allowed community groups to express interest in taking on the facility and develop business plans for its operation.
In response to the closure, Full Council passed a Notice of Motion on 2 October 2023, resolving to explore all practicable options to support swimming provision in Fylde and work with partners and stakeholders to maintain access to swimming facilities.
On 10 August 2023, the YMCA Kirkham Rural Splash facility closed permanently due to significant structural damage caused by Storm Arwen in December 2021. Despite efforts to repair the damage, the high costs of replacing the damaged roof and addressing aging infrastructure made reopening economically unviable for the YMCA.
FAQs
Fylde Council regained ownership of Kirkham Pool in June 2025. The YMCA Fylde Coast had owned and operated the facility from 2011 until the transfer back to the council.
The council is now responsible for securing the site and maintaining it to prevent further deterioration while future plans are developed.
The council did not close Kirkham Pool. The pool was owned and operated by the YMCA when it closed in August 2023.
The closure was necessary due to significant structural damage caused by Storm Arwen in December 2021. After investigating repair options and funding sources, the YMCA determined it was not economically viable to repair and reopen the facility, given the extent of damage and the age of the building’s infrastructure.
Following the storm damage, the YMCA received an insurance payout which was used to cover costs while the pool remained closed. The insurance money was allocated to:
- Holding costs to maintain the building while it was out of operation
- TUPE arrangements following the closure to protect staff employment rights
- On-site security measures, which became a requirement of the YMCA’s insurance arrangements due to increased incidents of break-ins and vandalism
When the council requested an extension to the disposal plan timeframes to allow the Community Interest Company proposal to be fully explored, the YMCA used the remaining insurance funds to continue paying for security during this extension period. By the time ownership transferred to the council in July 2025, the YMCA had exhausted all insurance monies received.
Kirkham Pool has been closed since August 2023 and has experienced some deterioration during this time, including damage from vandalism.
Since regaining ownership in June 2025, Fylde Council has undertaken preservation works funded by £150,000 in capital investment to prevent further deterioration. The site is regularly secured and monitored to protect it while decisions about its future are made. Annual revenue funding of £75,000 has been allocated for ongoing security and maintenance.
Maintaining and securing the vacant building requires substantial ongoing investment. Annual revenue funding of £75,000 has been allocated for security, monitoring and maintenance to prevent further damage to the building while the council explores options for its future.
The process has been complex and carefully managed to ensure the best possible outcome for the community:
Disposal Process Requirements (2023-2024)
Under the 2009 agreement with the YMCA, a formal disposal process was required when the pool closed. This process gave community groups the opportunity to express interest in taking on the facility and develop business plans for its operation. The council worked to support this process while ensuring any solution would be sustainable for the long term.
Community Interest Company Withdrawal (December 2024)
One CIC submitted a business plan, and the council provided additional time and support to help develop a viable proposal. However, the CIC ultimately withdrew in December 2024, unable to secure a sustainable business model given the scale of investment required and ongoing operational costs.
Funding and Viability Challenges
Reopening Kirkham Pool requires significant capital investment for repairs and refurbishment, as well as ongoing operational funding. Public swimming pools, particularly those in historic buildings over the 100 years old, face substantial running costs; a challenge faced by leisure facilities nationwide, not unique to Fylde or Kirkham.
Many facilities across the UK are facing similar pressures due to rising energy costs, maintenance expenses and operational challenges. More information about this can be found through Swim England
The council has worked diligently to identify funding sources, including submitting expressions of interest to heritage funding bodies and including the pool in the leisure procurement process to explore whether economies of scale across multiple sites could make restoration financially viable.
Careful Decision-Making
Rather than rushing to a decision that might not be sustainable, the council has taken time to thoroughly explore all options, secure ownership of the site to protect it, and include it in a comprehensive procurement process that could provide a long-term solution for swimming provision across the borough.
The council commissioned consultants to produce a detailed business plan for operating Kirkham Pool. This work revealed that reopening the pool would require substantial capital investment for refurbishment, plus significant ongoing revenue funding for operations. Understanding both the upfront and long-term costs has been essential to making informed, financially responsible decisions.
The council remains committed to exploring all practicable options for Kirkham Pool’s future while ensuring any solution is financially sustainable and serves the community’s needs.
