Creating an inclusive, nature-rich design for all.

The People’s Pool has been designed to serve the needs of a large, diverse local population – just how Eastville Park was when it opened as th “people’s park” in 1889. It’s going to be a lido by the people, for the people:

• Village Green-style changing facilities avoid normative or reductive gender categories and allow for individuals to simply change in a private space. This also allows for full use of the changing facilities when open for specific events, such as women only or non-binary swim sessions.

• Inspired by Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, the space is designed to feel safe and accessible to women, including robe hooks near the pool and stepped pool entrances.

• The surrounding building, housing the reception and café, will be a timber frame structure with pile foundations to reduce disruption to the ground and clad in recycled materials.

• The café is designed to easily allow viewing of the pool to be closed off, so a culturally appropriate setting can be created for people in our community who do not want to swim in a public setting.

• Pool accessibility for users with disabilities has been considered throughout, including large changing facilities for users with a carer, flat access and turning areas for wheelchair users, as well as a ramp/lift/hoist for the pool itself.