Swimming Pool
Built by the community in 1975. Being rebuilt by it again.
A pool built by the community, for the community
Dartington Swimming Pool was built by volunteers from the local community over a couple of summers in 1975 and 1976. The playground mounds nearby are partly made from the earth that was excavated to build it.
Since then it has been a thriving hub, with many local families having generations learn to swim here. It is, in every sense, a pool that has been run by the community for the community.
Sadly, over the summer of 2022 the liner badly tore and exposed the rotten underlying structure. The pool was unable to open in its current state and has remained closed since. But the community that built this pool has every intention of building it back.
The journey so far
In 2020, a small group of volunteers began thinking about what a pool refurbishment could look like. After consulting 235 local households, researching pool standards and working with architects, here is where we have got to.
A working party forms, consults 235 households, engages schools and user groups, and commissions Andrew Kirby Architects for the pre-planning application.
Liner failure exposes the rotten underlying structure. The pool closes. Fundraising and planning work intensifies.
Significant funds raised through grants, community contributions and generous supporters, including Gibbons Trust, The Normans Family Charity Trust, South West Water and Thrive.
Full planning permission secured for the new pool. We are now gathering contractor quotes and building the project plan to take us from drawings to reality.
Plans for the new pool
The designs have been shaped by years of consultation with the community and key user groups including local schools, Totnes Sub Aqua Club, Bidwell Brook, Lifeworks and The Brook. Inclusivity, sustainability and the environment are at the heart of everything.
Early estimates put the total project cost at around £1m. Thanks to Section 106 funding and our fundraising work we have made a good start, but there is a long way to go and every contribution matters.
- 25-metre swim lanes:extended to allow proper lengths for serious swimmers
- Warm water:heated by air source heat pumps powered by solar PV on the pavilion roof, with batteries to maximise the energy generated. Read more about our energy systems →
- Extended season:open into September for school lessons and beyond
- Improved shallow end:wide corner steps for families with young children and easier access for everyone
- Full accessible access:especially important for Bidwell Brook, Lifeworks and The Brook
- Sub-aqua ready:a thicker liner so Totnes Sub Aqua Club can use their equipment safely
- Modern changing facilities:non-gendered changing including accessible and family cubicles
- Sustainable build:excavated earth used to create a Devon bank, UV filtration and automatic dosing to minimise chemical use
