Saltdean Lido is the only Grade II* listed lido in the UK - one of the Seven Wonders of the English Seaside. The pool and its art-deco building have been brought back into public use by the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company and the Saltdean Lido Trust, with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other key funders. The building was in a dilapidated condition and was largely closed to the public.

In 1938 its innovative reinforced concrete structure enabled the architect, RWH Jones, freedom to create Saltdean Lido’s iconic streamlined design. However, due to its sea-facing location, the structure has suffered decades of chloride-attack which has allowed sea salts to penetrate the building. In 2010, Saltdean Lido’s leaseholder announced plans to fill in the pool with concrete and build 102 apartments on the historic site. With the building’s future in peril, supporters campaigned to save it. Now, having reinstated the pool to its 1937 crescent-shaped design, the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company is restoring the building to its former glory and giving this much-loved lido a sustainable future which celebrates its Grade II* design.

Within the constraints of Listed Building Consent, internal and external alterations have been made to facilitate the continued mixed use of the premises. Revised layouts have removed the intrusive internal partitions added in the 1970’s. For example, in the main entrance foyer now visually links the poolside café to the public library and so greatly aids navigation around the building. In addition, the ground floor rotunda has been enclosed by a glass screen to create additional space for a poolside cafe, and, at first floor level, the staging introduced in the 1970’s was removed to reconnect the sun decks, rotunda and ballroom, from which it is again possible to enjoy views to the pool beyond.

Insulation has been enhanced and energy efficient plant installed along with air source heat pumps between the main building and the pool. The building is now all electric and new utility services and ventilation ducts required to support modern day kitchen facilities have been discretely inserted.

The Lido fully reopened to the public in March 2024.

Photography by Richard Fraser 
 

It has been a privilege for rhp to be involved in the restoration of such an iconic piece of modernist architecture. As a Practice we’ve worked on many modern listed buildings, but Saltdean Lido is unique. Working with SLCIC and the wider community to secure a sustainable future for this building, sympathetic to its architectural heritage, has been immensely rewarding.

(Architect) Phillip Naylor, Director, R H Partnership Architects

Bringing new life to Saltdean Lido has been a fantastic achievement for the community led project. The high uptake of hiring community spaces and the constant buzz in the café goes to prove how much this community hub was needed.

We are immensely grateful for the very significant financial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the pragmatic and helpful advice from Historic England and their investment has resulted in Saltdean Lido having a sustainable future for many generations to come.

(Client) Derek Leaver, Chair, Saltdean Lido

The restoration and reopening of Saltdean Lido is a huge achievement, and one Historic England is proud to have played our part in. The community-driven transformation over the last few years, backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Brighton & Hove City Council, has given the Lido a new lease of life. Historic England provided support throughout the project via grant aid, specialist advice on difficult concrete repairs and problem solving to help drive the restoration forward. The Lido is now a hive of activity and this much cherished building can safely be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

Liz Pollard, Heritage at Risk Projects Officer at Historic England

As the country’s only Grade II* listed coastal lido, Saltdean has strong heritage merit with features reflecting an important period in leisure and coastal development. The building was deteriorating rapidly and without intervention would have been at risk of loss.

It was important to us that the project should not only save the building, but through its restoration, secure a viable long-term future. The resulting mixed-use scheme celebrates the building’s original use and provides much-needed community facilities, restoring an important part of the social and recreational heritage of Saltdean.

Stuart McLeod, Director of England, London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund