Stockport gets ready to bulldoze Marple baths
Having secured £20m of government funding for a modern, new-build leisure centre elsewhere in the town earlier this year, the council can now demolish the derelict Stockport Road facility.
Marple baths was forced to close in 2018 when it was deemed unsafe and work to knock down the venue is due to begin this October.
Stockport Council has lodged an application for the demolition of the former Marple baths.
The closure of the facility gave added impetus to the pursuit of a modern complex, a long-held ambition of Stockport Council.
The authority failed in its bid to secure a contribution from the Levelling Up Fund for the project in 2021 and bid again in the second round.
The government initially knocked back that bid too, before announcing it would give the council £20m for the project at this year’s spring Budget.
A planning application for the new community leisure facility is expected before the end of the year.
Subject to approval, construction work could begin in summer 2024 and the new facility could open in the winter of 2025.
The scheme, designed by GT3 Architects, will feature a swimming pool, library, gym, community space, fitness studio and play park, along with walking and cycling routes linking the hub to Marple town centre.
To learn more about the demolition proposals, search for reference DC/089228 on Stockport Council’s planning portal.
Levelling up fund ?? It’s a disgrace you have areas like Reddish whose swimming baths have been left to rot for years and they give levelling up funding to one of the most affluent areas very strange !!
By Steven
It’s a disgrace the building belongs to the people of Marple and they have no right to know an iconic building down it used to be a dance hall on a Saturday night. Why is the money not been allocated to the town of marpke we have over 20000 residents and no facilities. I presume it’s going to be turned into overpriced flats that don’t sell as per the bank
By C mottram
I think marple deserves a new swimming pool
By Anonymous
Sad to see it go as a member of Marple Swimming Club established in 1933 but excited to get a new pool and the club to continue back in Marple . What is happening with the plaque in the pool by the front door which was put there when the original pool was built. This needs to be saved . Thanknyou
By Lucy Budd
And yet the council won’t disclose how small the new library will be, within the pool complex.
By Steve
Why stop at the baths ?
By Robert young
As a resident of Romiley, it is exciting to learn Marple are getting a new sports centre. I also agree with the resident of Reddish too. Reddish really needs financial input. It is ridiculous that less well off areas get less funding. If anything, they should get more. I an very fortunate in that I have the funds to drive to a swimming pool of my choice. Others don’t have that luxury.
By Anonymous
About time this long running farce of closed swimming baths and rapdily disintergrating building is resolved. Would nice to see greater progress made on the application for the replacement scheme before the bulldozers move in.
By Able
C Mottram writes ‘ we have over 20000 residents and no facilities.’ and that is precisely why the old baths are being demolished and replaced by the new leisure centre, which will also replace the ugly library building. Bring it on!
By Anonymous
I remember swimming in fact learning to swim there, the fire door let in a draft within the pool area so I’m unsurprised it’s being knocked down I got my bronze there.
By Nathan Eakins
What happens to the library service during construction ? Why hasn’t the existing pool been maintained properly ? The council has been shy in telling residents the cost to use the completed service, no doubt there will be an expensive pay and display car park.
By Anon
We have no facilities in Marple, the sports hall at the college closed years ago, followed by the pool then the gym. Buses and trains are not frequent. Why do people assume that the people of Marple want to drive and can drive!! We need to let our children and families have access to local facilies too, equal to all.
By Anonymous
What will replace the building once it’s demolished?
By Anonymous
Where is or when is the consultation period. The community must have a say in a resource that was presented to the council for community use
By Paula smith
This has been quite a farce in general. I’d like to know why it needs to be demolished. If it can’t be repaired then why can’t it be repurposed. Some sort of event space….club? theatre? cinema?. Hopefully not a new block of flats.
By Anonymous
Yes I agree the original Marple Pool is quite elderly & a new complex is needed but to bulldoze the beautiful original Baths is sacrilegious. It was ‘GIVEN’ to the people of Marple. Surely this wonderful building with an Art Deco ceiling behind where bands once played for dances could be reused once again to serve the people of Marple for Dances, community/private functions, playgroups charitable events Shows, Music Nights…..the list is endless.
Marple Baths holds a lots memories & history & if restored it could be a huge asset as well as maybe restoring a little faith that not everything old has lost its use or is totally obsolete.
By Meredith Maynard-Smith