The former Sansome Walk swimming pool is set to be transformed into 40 affordable homes.

The site, previously owned by Worcester City Council, has been officially transferred to Worcester-based Sanctuary, one of the UK's largest housing and care providers.

The site had been vacant since its closure in December 2016 following the huge multi-million-pound redevelopment of the city’s Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

 

 

Read more: Plans for former Debenhams in Worcester High Street revealed

 

 

Due to its prolonged vacancy the pool, which had previously been open for 46 years, saw the asbestos-ridden building becoming a site of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

It was eventually demolished in 2021 at an estimated cost of £2.64 million after years of setbacks and delays.

The council agreed to move ahead with demolishing the building in January 2017 before deciding the land would be used for new homes later that summer.

The city council had then agreed to sell the site to Sanctuary Housing and YMCA in March 2018, who initially planned to build 76 accommodation units for 18-to-35-year-olds and a business and enterprise hub before reducing to the current development of 40 properties.

In May 2023 the council opted to delay the completion of the project until March 2025, when the cost-sharing of the demolished pool project became the subject of ongoing discussions between the city council and Sanctuary.

An agreement was ultimately reached ahead of the deadline the following month.

Having received planning permission, Sanctuary's work on the site to remove surplus materials from the demolition of the former swimming pool, will begin in the coming weeks.

The actual construction of the new homes is anticipated to commence later in the year.

The completed development is set to feature a mix of one-bedroom flats and two to four-bedroom houses, in efforts to introduce more affordable housing in Worcester.

Ahead of the project officially starting, Sanctuary's UK development director, David Soothill said: "We have a major presence in Worcester and are committed to investing in the city and delivering high-quality new homes for local people.

"This is a significant step and I’m delighted we can now push forward and turn our plans for this important site in the heart of the city into a reality".