Aimee Dexter & Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Peterborough
Shariqua Ahmed / BBC
Asbestos issues and out-of-date mechanical installations were also found at the pool
Plans for a swimming pool in a city that has been left without one for almost two years have been backed by the government.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was first discovered at Peterborough's Regional Pool in September 2023 and it was forced to shut.
In her Spending Review on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would establish funding to help the City Council develop plans for a sports quarter, including a pool.
Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for the city, said it was the "only one of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the country without a public pool".
Martin Giles/BBC
Andrew Pakes, Labour MP for Peterborough, said the announcement was a "good day for Peterborough"
PA Media
Rachel Reeves has said the government would provide funding to help plans for a Peterborough sports quarter get drawn up
A decision was made to permanently close the Regional Pool in March 2024 due to high repair costs, with demolition work expected to take place until July.
It was hoped that a replacement pool, which would be built at an estimated cost of £30m, would be open by 2028.
Pakes said it could be about 18 months before work on the sports quarter would begin.
Funding is expected to be confirmed in the summer.
Shariqua Ahmed/ BBC
The Regional Pool site on Bishop's Road has been boarded up, with demolition works expected to finish in July
City of Peterborough Swimming Club has been left without a home since the regional pool shut.
Morgan Stevenson from the club said it was "thrilled" by the announcement both for the club and the wider community.
Leader of the council, Dennis Jones, described the announcement as "fantastic" and said the council would work "at pace" on the business case before it was submitted to the government.
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