Built and opened in 1987 by Dover District Council, Tides Leisure Centre needed major investment to address concerns regarding an ageing building with deteriorating pool plant equipment, and to meet today’s customer expectations and those of future years.

• Work on Tides proposals began seven years ago, starting with a feasibility study.
• The study found a new build would be more cost‑effective and better for future community needs than refurbishing the existing centre.
• By February 2020, DDC’s Cabinet approved plans for a new wet‑side and health & fitness centre. The project was then paused due to Covid‑19.
• In July 2022, the project restarted with public consultation, but rising costs created major affordability issues.
• In November 2023, feasibility work indicated the project would cost approx. £27m with a £9m funding deficit.
• Cabinet requested exploration of further alternative options.
• New, more affordable proposals were presented in July 2024.
• Public engagement in late 2024 included designs with a six‑lane pool, splash pad, inflatable fun sessions, fitness areas, studios, and café.
• In January 2025, Cabinet approved progressing to RIBA Stages 3 & 4.
• Planning permission was granted in August 2025.
• Construction began on site in March 2026.

Twelve potential sites were reviewed during the initial options appraisal work against a range of criteria. The results of this investigation strongly supported the proposal of keeping the centre at the existing site. By developing it in the existing location, the four-court sports hall and indoor tennis centre could be retained.

The Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2023 recognises a six-lane 25m pool would help to address future demand arising from housing and population growth. It would complement existing district wide provision including Dover District Leisure Centre, which already offers a county standard competition pool, by providing lane swimming as well as an established focus on leisure swimming and family fun.

Initial project proposals suggested a fixed 1.2m floor depth pool, however following public engagement, the pool depth will now be varied with a shallow and deep end, adopting a Sport England pool profile to allow swimming and other activities to take place. Whilst options regarding the final pool profile remain under review by DDC, there will not be a ‘beach design entrance’ pool in the new scheme.

Revised plans do not include permanent or fixed slide and flumes because the Council needed to find an affordable and sustainable design that can be used more flexibly by all members of the community meeting a wide range of need.  Many old and aged leisure pools continue to permanently close across the country. They are notoriously high-energy consuming buildings, and local authorities/other providers do not have the funding to continue operating.

The approved project plans also include a dedicated toddler splash pad and the larger six lane 25m pool will host bespoke inflatable aqua family fun days suitable for children, families and young adults.

The tennis centre and sports hall were built relatively recently (opening in 2005 and 2011 respectively). Both are in a good condition and will be retained as integral parts of the new leisure centre. These facilities will remain open while work on the Deal Leisure Centre project progresses.

The estimated total project cost is £20m.

The project will be paid for through a combination of Council reserves and borrowing, based on the improvement of the revenue performance of the facilities following completion. The Council can access a range of borrowing at competitive rates through the Public Works Loan Board and this will be combined with a £4.4m contribution from the Council’s earmarked reserves. The Council intends to use the improvement in the revenue performance of the site to help fund the loan repayments.

The end of construction is anticipated for the end of 2027.

Everyone Active will take over the operational management of the Sports Hall and Indoor Tennis Centre from 1 April, and the new Centre once complete at the end of 2027.

Yes. To ensure the new designs meet, as far as possible, the highest accessible design standards, the consultant team have:

• followed guidance for designing accessible leisure centres
• taken account of feedback from accessible user groups
• applied lessons learnt from newly designed accessible leisure centres

The new swimming pool with health and fitness facilities, changing rooms and toilets will all be accessible. There will be lifts between the two floors and parking for blue badge holders.

Plans incorporate publicly accessible toilets and take a similar design approach to Dover District Leisure Centre, locating these before the controlled access areas.

As with many local authorities, Dover District Council has declared a climate and ecological emergency and made a pledge to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.

Leisure centres are high energy consumers with space heating and hot water loads higher than any other building type.  A BREEAM Very Good rating is the minimum to be achieved.

Our approach to sustainability for the new Deal Leisure Centre will consider this high energy demand and carbon targets, building in some low energy design principles including:

• Compact form and orientation of the building
• Thermal zoning (warm, neutral and cool zones)
• Photovoltaics (solar electricity panels)
• Other renewable energy sources
• Efficient pool filtration
• Future proofing and flexibility of spaces

Yes, with the required provision to be developed to meet local and regulatory requirements.

The project budget does not include facilities such as a sauna or steam room, which are costly spaces to provide, maintain and manage, especially in response to insurance requirements for these areas.

Current plans for the new leisure centre allow for a changing village style provision in the swimming pool fully accessible for individuals, families and swimming groups.  The centre will also provide separate male and female changing rooms on the first floor.

We will keep everybody up to date with project news. You can sign up to the ‘Deal Leisure Centre’ topic at www.dover.gov.uk/keepmeposted. Project updates will be posted on the Council’s social media channels and the Leisure Centre itself will have an information board.

Toning tables are power assisted exercise machines to help improve how you move and tone muscles in a gentle way. They assist users to increase mobility and in some cases are used to rehabilitate from injuries. Typically, they are used by older people and can offer a means of social integration/activity.

All elements removed from the building will be recycled appropriately, where possible.   Pellikaan (the contractor) advises that they have recycled over 90% of the retrieved material from the Tides Pool Hall that was demolished.

There will be thermal and environmental barriers to ensure each space has the appropriate environment, including suitable ventilation. Pool areas are complex, and the environmental conditions need to be very carefully controlled.

Works have started on site. Works will be unobstructive and occur Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm and on Saturday between 8am and 1pm. These works will be undertaken with consideration to members using the centre and neighbours adjacent to the site.  Noise and vibration monitoring, along with a water dust suppression system will be deployed as necessary.

There may be times where access to parts of the site will need to be restricted, but these dates will be agreed and made known weeks in advance.

For any enquiries about works on site contact info@pellikaan.com or call on 0208 3929536.