Images have been released showing how the site of the former Marina Bathing Pool in Ramsgate, Kent, could be redeveloped into an outdoor swimming complex. The Art Deco lido opened in 1935 and was a popular seaside attraction before closing and being paved over to create a car park in the 1970s.
Thanet District Council is considering disposing of the council-owned car park, and non-profit organisation Heritage Lab Ramsgate is in early discussions with a developer interested in taking over the site. The group hopes to reinstate a year-round outdoor swimming facility, which they believe would help re-establish Ramsgate as a distinctive coastal destination.
A spokesperson for Heritage Lab Ramsgate said: 'Thanet has a thriving sea and open-water swimming culture, with people of all ages swimming year-round for wellbeing, connection and community. Outdoor swimming is no longer niche – it’s part of a wider shift in how people travel and spend time at the coast.'
The proposed development could include saunas, cafés and social spaces, creating a year-round destination. A report is due to be submitted to the council ahead of a February 26 meeting, recommending a marketing exercise to invite proposals from interested parties.
Heritage Lab Ramsgate has also nominated the site to be designated an Asset of Community Value, which would give community groups time to develop a bid if the site is put up for sale. The group emphasised that any scheme would need to be developed responsibly and in close consultation with local residents.
