£2.3 million upgrade planned for Warrender Baths

The baths were originally opened in 1887

A planning application has been submitted for a £2.3 million six-month refurbishment of the historic Warrender Baths.

The works are due to commence in November, subject to planning approval, but Edinburgh Leisure said the exact timeline has not yet been finalised.

The Warrender Swim Centre has not yet reopened following closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Edinburgh Leisure was unable to confirm whether the centre will be open for any period of time before the refurbishment work begins.

The “life cycle refurbishment” will include repairs to the external fabric of the building, as well as replacing changing, toilet and shower facilities.

The pool hall, gym and reception areas will also be redecorated, and the pool will be retiled with improved water drainage.

Cubicles and changing rooms will be updated, and the layout for dry changing rooms has been changed.

The gym will receive a new air conditioning system and a new layout of equipment.

A full-height screen will be put in to separate the gallery and entrance area from the pool, hoping to improve air quality and reduce energy consumption.

Electrical, mechanical and plant equipment will also be replaced.

The refurbished centre will boast a ticketless electronic glass gate entrance system, allowing visitors to book online.

The most recent planning application has been lodged by Edinburgh-based Fouin + Bell Architects, after a previous application submitted by the same firm in April was refused.

Edinburgh Leisure issued an invitation to tender for a main contractor for the £2.3 million, six-month project in August, and said the start date for the works is still to be agreed upon.

The charity runs a continuous programme of refurbishment of its buildings and Leisure centres, with the Warrender Swim Centre gym upgraded nine years ago in September 2011.

The Leith Victoria pool, also run by Edinburgh Leisure, underwent significant work last year, and was closed to the public from August 12.

The upgrade included improvements to the ventilation system, and structural improvements to the hall, windows and roof, as well as to the mechanical and electrical works.

The pool reopened on March 2, much to the joy of local residents who had been missing the historic pool.

But after just three weeks of use the pool was once again closed, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Leith Victoria Pool reopened to the public along with five other Edinburgh Leisure venues on September 14: Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre, Drumbrae Leisure Centre, The Royal Commonwealth Pool, Gracemount Leisure Centre and Ainslie Park Leisure Centre.

The historic Warrender Baths was initially opened as a private bathing club by a group of residents together with a Glaswegian swimming club, who joined together to buy land off Sir George Warrender.

The baths were first opened by Sir George in 1887.

With a billiard room and a reading room, the baths were different to most other leisure facilities as they were founded on a private club, rather than on efforts to encourage local people into swimming.

They were a success at first, but by 1906 were no longer making money, and were forced to close, before eventually being bought by the city.

The baths are home to the famous Warrender Baths Club, founded in 1888 at the baths and said to be the oldest in Scotland.