Birmingham Swimming Centre | St Vincent St | Prop

[Biosonic]

There are various posts about this in the Brum thread, but it's worth its own thread

From BCC:

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Generat...=9&MENU_ID=276

Swimming Pool Plans Outlined



Press Release Details

Summary The first phase of exciting plans to create a new network of swimming pools – including a 50m Olympic standard facility – has been outlined in a Council report.
PR Portfolio Leisure

Reference Number 11212
Press contact Geoff Coleman on 0121 303 3501
Issue Date 12 December 2008

The first phase of exciting plans to create a new network of swimming pools – including a 50m Olympic standard facility – has been outlined in a Council report.

Phase one of the Swimming Pool Provision strategy, to be considered by Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet on December 15, will also propose to improve existing swimming facilities across the City, including replacing Harborne Pool with a new facility and the refurbishment of Stetchford Cascades.

Leader of the council, Councillor Mike Whitby said: "Birmingham is recognised as a world class city for sport, and it is imperative that we continue to evolve and offer modern, high-quality facilities of a world class and Olympic standard.

"At the heart of this new Sports strategy is a new 50m pool complex to be located in the city centre, offering flexible water space for all, but also with a specification and capacity to host some of the biggest international events. It is not simply a resource to attract Olympic teams prior to 2012 but will also provide the citizens of Birmingham the facilities they deserve.

"Our 50m pool will be another key component in our sporting offer, alongside other world class facilities like the newly completed Birmingham GMAC and our famous NIA. With our continued commitment to investment in this standard of facility I am confident we can continue to drive up sports participation and continue to attract major sporting events"

Following a feasibility study carried out earlier this year, a city centre site for a 50m pool complex has now been earmarked.

The complex, to be built between Nelson Primary School and the railway line to the rear of the NIA (off St Vincent Street), will incorporate a 50m, 10-lane pool with a movable floor and boom, an international diving tank, a major leisure water facility and significant indoor dry sport facilities, including fitness equipment, climbing wall and dance studio.

Scheduled for completion in early 2012 it is hoped the new facility will be used as a training facility by visiting athletes for the Olympic Games later that year.

[feltip]

I'd use the other thread Bio as this would only repeat that thread anyway.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=765284

Not really any more news on this for the moment till we hear further details.
Looks like funding needs to be sorted out as the priority before things move with this.

[Biosonic]

Ah sorry - I didn't see that one.

Woody - can you delete this please?

Ta

[Brummyboy92]

BIRMINGHAM’S long-awaited £60 million Olympic-size swimming pool is set to come complete with white-knuckle fun rides, leisure chiefs revealed today.
Jan 1 2009 by Paul Dale, Birmingham Mail

Coun Ray Hassall said the water park would be one of the best in the country with “scary rides only teenagers would dare to use”.

It would form part of a giant complex including a 50-metre pool and a diving arena. The council wants to build the development on land at the back of the National Indoor Arena.

Coun Hassall (Lib Dem, Perry Barr) said: “We have to get away from the idea that this is just about a 50 metre pool.

“We are talking about a major international centre, which will include the Olympic pool, a separate pool for diving, and a massive leisure pool.

“We have to start looking at the future and this will be a major tourist attraction for the city.”

The new complex could even have its own train station, delivering a long-awaited public transport boost to the International Convention Centre, National Indoor Arena and Brindleyplace.

The council said it would talk to Network Rail about building a halt on the line from New Street, which runs past the site proposed for the swimming complex.

Plans for a station have been talked about since the ICC opened in 1991, but funding for the project has never been identified.

Opposition Labour councillors have been critical of the pool proposals, pointing out the council has so far found only £30 million of the total cost.

It was also unclear how the authority would find the estimated £400,000 annual running costs for the pools.

There has also been speculation other municipal pools in Birmingham could have to close to pay for the new centre.

Coun Muhammad Afzal (Lab, Aston) said: “I doubt whether the controlling group has any real intention of building a 50-metre pool. They are just playing with words.”

Coun Hassall said the pool would be built if he could convince cabinet colleagues the project was affordable.

He added: “I have to get a business case together and if I don’t it will be a hatchet in the back of Hassall’s head, which is not a happy prospect.”

[Erebus555]

That bit about a possible new train station is definitely very exciting and harks back to many suggestions other forumers have made for the construction of a train station on the site!

Let's just hope that if this does get to the point where it does hit the drawing board, that we don't end up with something looking like StarCity's twin.

[Biosonic]

The Post has an article and their editorial is doubtful that the money can be found. Apparently Ray Hassall has 9 months to get his business case sorted.

[feltip]

Originally Posted by Biosonic

The Post has an article and their editorial is doubtful that the money can be found. Apparently Ray Hassall has 9 months to get his business case sorted.

9 Months and then were into the last quarter of 2009 and gives us little over 2 years to get it built and ready for the Olympic teams to use.

[morestoreysplease]

This story has become a farce today alone - The Post mentions a station added to the pool building and the Mail reports on water shutes FFS!

[Biosonic]

Let's have them all!

[woodhousen]

and what on earth would a development like this look like......leisures pools are not renounded for their quality of architecture!

[Biosonic]

Looking at the price of this, and the council's lust for decent buildings I think we would be OK on that one (if we can afford it!).

Could you splice this thread with the other one Woody please?

[fruit&nut]

The thing about the leisure pool is that it would bring income.

A straight 50m pool would generate some income from swimmers and clubs from quite a wide radius would use it, but a leisure pool would dramatically increase footfall and hence income.

It's a good idea, no question. My only concern is the mention of Network Rail. Basically that adds 5 years of bureaucratic incompetence onto the project.

[woodhousen]

not really..... the station can be and is likely complimentry to the scheme but is unlikley to be a component part of the scheme. there is no reason why the scheme couldnt go ahead without the station, and assuming the station will most likely be funded by the scheme, id suggest that is what is likely to happen with the station coming after the scheme!

[fruit&nut]

Fair comment Woody. Anything to do with NR always sends the nerves into overdrive....

[woodhousen]

yup.... moor street being a casing point!

[markmcd1976]

There is no way a station would get built there in the next three years! Things don't move that fast in this country when it comes to transport! Look at Snow Hill... 3 years to build an exit.

[djay]

can someone explain what a halt is plz???

[U475 Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by djay

can someone explain what a halt is plz???

Sounds like another term for a stop but without getting everyone excited by saying station

[U475 Foxtrot]

Coun Ray Hassall said the water park would be one of the best in the country with “scary rides only teenagers would dare to use”

Oh dear, sounds rubbish already World class, Olympic standard, landmark leisure pool with a new train station

where's my hatchet?

[Brummyboy92]

Originally Posted by U475 Foxtrot

Oh dear, sounds rubbish already World class, Olympic standard, landmark leisure pool with a new train station

where's my hatchet?

Why does the above quote make it sound rubbish!