OPINION
Renovation Over Replacement – Busting Some Of The Myths The Swimming Pool Support Fund has provided much needed relief for local authorities. However, common misconceptions around updating facilities are costing leisure operators time, money and efficiency. Here, Kevin Burns of Myrtha Pools discusses how modern methods of construction (MMC) are allowing renovation to come to the fore, without expensive new build costs
E
xisting pools in the UK rarely meet today’s health code regulations and therefore need to adapt to become compliant. This was one of the key outcomes of Swim England’s ‘Decade of Decline’ report two years ago, which revealed that almost 2,000 pools will be lost by the end of the decade, without the intervention of vital funding in the sector. Now, leisure operators, relieved somewhat by the second round of government funding, are fighting hard to meet modern standards, particularly with net zero at the core of sector-wide ambitions. Replacing traditional concrete, gunite and shotcrete pools however, is not the only answer. It has long been the modus operandi of local councils facing outdated pools, yet it’s a frustrating sticking point that we see too often, as pool designers in this space, and doesn’t have to be undertaken via a complete pool replacement. Instead, renovation is breathing new life into creating affordable and sustainable pools for leisure operators, that are designed with the end goal of getting more people swimming. Here, we run through the most popular myths held by the leisure sector and the indecision that prevents it from delivering a profitable future for all.
MYTH 1: I’LL LOSE VITAL PROFITS BY SHUTTING DOWN MY POOL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD Many leisure operators simply fear the cost implications of shutting down their facilities and the losses that will incur until a new one is opened. However, pioneering MMC techniques are allowing renovation practices to be undertaken in tightly controlled production environments, with installation and delivery taking place at the very last moment – minimising disruption to site and allowing public pools to stay open longer than would be possible with a complete new build. Through this methodology, an existing pool can be completely ‘reskinned’ to deliver several sustainable improvements, taking a pool out of operation for mere weeks, rather than months on end.
84 April 2024 SPN 84_SPN_April_2024_Opinion.indd 84
MYTH 2: I’LL JUST BE MAKING ‘APPEARANCE-LED’ IMPROVEMENTS WITH NO LONG-TERM GAIN
MYTH 5: SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODERN AGE WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE OVERHAUL
The streamlined process of renovating a pool structure, along with the adaptability of the reskinning process, is beneficial not only to the cost and manpower associated with the project, but also the carbon footprint. By taking the time to fix an old leaking pool, with a watertight, insulated skin, pool authorities make incremental sustainable gains, that will ultimately have a long-lasting impact on the daily running cost of operating a pool.
The inclusion of soft walk safety floors and added ‘bubble systems’ to create an air safety cushion for divers, are both practical and easy ways local councils can adapt their current pool stock to meet modern safety standards. The COVID-19 pandemic completely refocused efforts industry wide around safety, and not just in terms of hygiene and infection control. Operators must ensure that their pools can adapt to different market needs, age requirements and ensure safety systems tie in with this, if they are to survive and increase their profits at a time of rising inflation rates and spiralling operational costs. There are lots of innovative technology features offered on today’s market, that can be integrated into current stock, from ‘AngelEye’ safety systems that can help lifeguards, to recessed steps and movable bulkheads, that can assist swimmers and cater for different swimming programmes.
MYTH 3: I’LL HAVE TO COMPLETELY CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY POOL, I CAN’T JUST RENOVATE INDIVIDUAL AREAS Far from just a simple reskin, the accessibility created by off-site construction allows for more than just a surface level change. Improvements in both guttering and filtration can be achieved through renovation, delivering additional benefits to hygiene and water quality. While decisions here may increase installation periods, many of the materials required for these processes can be pre-formed off site, or in some cases, adapted to existing concrete guttering. We’ve worked with many operators that walk that difficult tightrope of budget, delivery and timeline estimations; balancing community need with planning for the future. It is really a case of working closely with all stakeholders in a project, determining their requirements and having early engagement as a core mantra.
MYTH 4: I WON’T ATTRACT ANY NEW SWIMMERS UNLESS I MAKE SUBSTANTIAL NEW BUILD IMPROVEMENTS It is important to highlight the depth and scale of just what can be achieved through renovation. While aspects such as floor depths and lengths of pools require longer term adjustment, zero entry or sloped entry options for example, can still be achieved with any pool renovation – increasing swimmer accessibility in an age where inclusivity is so important.
PLANNING THE ROAD AHEAD It is important that pool operators, councils and all stakeholders combine their respective focuses as one – to look at adjustable, incremental improvements that contribute positively to swimming within our local communities. It is up to experts such as us, to continue to work closely with our customer base, to ensure the UK maintains and updates its leisure stock on the road to a sustainable future. Myrtha Pools UK 07860 852339 www.myrthapools.com
It is important that pool operators, councils and all stakeholders combine their respective focuses as one” www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 08/04/2024 13:17