REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY AND LEISURE

 

 

 HAGGERSTON POOL BUILDING DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS [FP NO 01.07.06]

 

Cabinet  - 27 February 2006

 

 

Classification

 

PUBLIC

 

 

Enclosure

 

None

 

AGENDA ITEM No

 

6

 

 

 

Ward(s) affected

 

HAGGERSTON

 

 

 


REASON FOR LATENESS

 

Cabinet are requested to receive this as a late report. The content of the report has been determined by the results of an interim report on the development of options for the regeneration of the Haggerston Pool building. Follow up discussions upon the receipt of the interim report has contributed to the delay in producing this report for consideration by Cabinet.

 

 

1.0             INTRODUCTION BY CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY AND LEISURE

 

            I am pleased that this administration is in a position to receive a report outlining a possible way forward to bring back into use the Haggerston Pool building

 

Haggerston Pool closed in 2000 but has remained the subject of significant local pride.  Haggerston Pool regeneration options have been identified following a feasibility study carried out between May and December 2005.  This incorporated a building condition survey and conservation statement and consultation with key stakeholders.  As a former user of the facility it gives me great pleasure in recommending the development of option 1 as the preferred option, as a mixed use facility with a focus on healthy living and more importantly retention of the 25m pool and pool hall structure.  To develop this in the context of the wider regeneration plans for Haggerston West and explore fully the opportunities to integrate the development of the building with regeneration plans for the area.

 

In addition the report recommends continued building maintenance to sustain the integrity of the building and high level project management to ensure that further development work is brought to fruition.

 

2.0             SUMMARY

 

2.1       The purpose of the feasibility study was to identify a preferred option that could be developed as a model for the future use of the Haggerston Pool building. This report sets out the process towards identifying a preferred option and actions required to develop this work further.

           

2.2             The Haggerston Pools building regeneration options were identified through an inclusive feasibility study conducted between May and December 2005. This identified a set of options through: consultation with primary and secondary stakeholders: the results of the Conservation Statement for the building; and the outcome of the Building Condition Survey.  Further work is required to develop the preferred option within the context of the wider regeneration plans for Haggerston West and explore more fully the opportunities for integrating any development of the building within the wider plans for regeneration of the local area.

 

2.3       This report also identifies the work required to mitigate any further deterioration of this public asset.

 

3.0       RECOMMENDATIONS

 

            Members are requested to:

 

3.1       Agree option 1 as the preferred model for the future regeneration of the Haggerston Pool Building and that officers investigate developing this option further within the context of the wider regeneration plans for Haggerston West  and that housing should not be excluded from these plans.

 

3.2       Agree that officers commission a structural survey of the building, carry out reactive repairs and preventative maintenance and arrange for the removal of asbestos.

 

3.3       Agree to receive a report later in the year.

 

 

4.0       RELATED DECISION

 

            16 October 2000 – Regeneration Committee: Haggerston Leisure Centre Options Appraisal.

 

            30 May 2000 – Regeneration Committee: Haggerston Leisure Centre

 

            16 February 2000 – Education and Leisure Services Committee:  Haggerston Pool – Progress report.

 

5.0       FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

 

5.1       Bringing the Haggerston Pool building back into use is an ambitious project which would require harnessing significant capital investment from a range of partners and require on going revenue subsidy to make the project viable. The feasibility study has provided an option for the future development of the pool building which has a broad consensus amongst a range of stakeholders. If this work is to be taken further, additional resources to develop the option into a fully costed scheme would be required. The council will need to build capacity within the organisation to develop and project manage the development of the scheme.

 

5.2       The estimated capital costs of the preferred option for the regeneration of the Haggerston Pool building is £21m. However this estimate has been prepared on preliminary sketch drawings not a detailed design and does not include, among other items, asbestos removal or occupier fit out.  The revenue costs are estimated at £339K per annum.

 

5.3       The cost of developing the proposal further within the context of the regeneration plans for Haggerston West is estimated at £80K.  In addition to this it is proposed that a structural survey is undertaken to inform the development of the option, essential repairs and preventative maintenance is carried out to stop further deterioration of the building and asbestos is removed. The estimated cost of this work is £170K and can be met from underspend and contingencies funds.

 

 

6.0       COMMENTS OF THE MONITORING OFFICER

 

6.1       There are no legal or propriety issues that require comment.

 

 

7.0       HAGGERSTON POOL BUILDING FEASIBILITY STUDY – DEVELOPING THE OPTIONS

 

            Consultation

 

7.1       The development of the options has involved an extensive multi-stage consultation process. The first stage of consultation identified the needs of Hackney Council, in its role as a community leader as well as owner of the asset. Consultation meetings were held with key officers and departments across the council.

 

7.2       The second stage of consultation identified the strategic needs of key stakeholders external to the Council including the Haggerston Pool Community Trust, the Learning Trust, City and Hackney PCT, Sport England, Arts Council England, Shoreditch Trust, London and Quadrant Housing Association, Canalside Housing, VLC Centre, Laburnham Boat Club, Local Police Force/Youth of Haggerston, Hackney Building Exploratory, Youth Charter for Sport and UBS Bank (Bridge Academy).

                                       

7.3             The third and final stage of the consultation process identified the needs of local organisations and 400 questionnaires were sent out to relevant community based organisations in July 2005. In total 70 organisations completed and returned the questionnaire, a response rate of 17.5% (average 15% for postal questionnaires). Respondents were representative of a number of focal activities across the borough:  and the analysis of the questionnaires revealed a number of clear priorities, in particular, the principal of the building being developed as a mixed used facility. The inclusion of both a community café (82%) and the retention of the existing pool (70.5%) alongside a combination of other sport, leisure, cultural, health, education and enterprise focused community facilities were the most frequently identified by respondents. These results broadly concur with the outcomes of the consultation with Hackney Council and key stakeholders.

 

            Conservation Statement

 

7.4       An independent assessment of the conservation and heritage aspects of the building was undertaken for the first time as part of a feasibility and was essential given the building’s listed status in order to provide the appropriate parameters for redevelopment options. This concluded that the building is of considerable architectural, social and historical importance.

 

  7.5     In particular, the unaltered exterior of the building, with its ornamental fronts and laundry chimney, the double-height pool hall space, original entrance lobby and the second class female slipper baths are considered the most important surviving historic features. The most important feature of the pool hall is considered to be its curved roof.

 

Building Condition Survey

 

7.6       A full condition survey was undertaken to define the extent and nature of deterioration of the building. The survey found the building to be of sound structure, however, severe structural problems were identified in the main structural floors and ceilings, as well as defects to the drainage system. These problem elements would require extensive capital works to restore them and make the building usable. The building also contains asbestos which would need to be removed.

 

7.7       The survey identified work required to extend the life of the building for 125 years and to enable implementation of the options arising from the feasibility study to bring the building back in to use as a multi use facility. A full structural report and survey is required to include an assessment of the foundations and loadings required to take forward any proposed option for the future of the building.

 

Strategic Context

 

7.8       The feasibility study identified a need for additional water space in the borough based on current provision. However, the re-opening of Clissold Leisure Centre and the London Fields Lido will significantly increase the amount of water space available. Sport England are of the view that the long term strategic need for a new swimming facility will not be so great once these facilities are open. However, it does acknowledge that Hackney’s focus on providing water space at a local level linked to the development of its aquatic strategy will provide the strategic context for existing and future provision.

 

7.9       The Sport England Facilities Planning Model (FPM) is a methodology to assess the strategic need for water space in a locality. As part of the further work required to develop the preferred option, the borough will commission the FPM to provide an independent assessment of the impact on the supply and demand of providing additional water space in the borough and the impact on other facilities. This will be used to inform the borough’s aquatic strategy and the programme management of its water based facilities.

 

7.10    The council and its partners are developing plans for the regeneration of Haggerston West and Kingsland areas. The plans are to increase the number of households on the estates through a mix of accommodation. The increase in residential accommodation places further demands for community facilities and provides an opportunity for exploring further the range of possibilities for a mixed use facility as part of a regenerated Haggerston Pool building.

 

The Options

 

7.11    Three options were developed based on the best use of the building as a multi use facility that provides a focal point for a number of activities around health improvement, well being, culture and leisure and youth facilities three options have emerged. Each option retains the 25m pool and the pool hall structure; and provides for the restoration of the original facades, of the building on Whiston Road and Laburnum Street. (features of historic significance to be retained, enhanced and brought back in to appropriate use where possible).

 

7.12         These options are set out in the table below and are a result of the work undertaken so far.

 

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

OPTION 3

GP surgery – must be secured to enable this option to be viable

 

Dental practice

Diving pool – potential impact on the structure of the building as it would require removal of existing pool tank which has been in situ for 100 years.

Events and conference spaces; restaurant and bar.

Hydro-th