This is how Southwark council dealt with their victorian pools in Camberwell:

Camberwell Baths development makes a splash
Published on: 20/6/2008
Ref: 5757

Southwark today announced that it has short-listed three potential submissions to work with the council to explore creative and sustainable solutions for investing in the Camberwell Leisure Centre.

In February 2008, the council called for submissions from architects, developers and leisure operators who had good ideas for the leisure centre but also the resources to realise those ideas.

One component of the brief was to retain the pool as a leisure facility while also offering other community or leisure facilities on the site.

The council received more than 90 expressions of interest, which resulted in seven submissions that were short-listed to three bids. The next phase will be to appraise these to explore their potential.

Cllr Lewis Robinson, executive member for culture, leisure and sport at Southwark Council, said: ?The council is committed to investing in and improving leisure facilities across the borough. I am committed to securing a sustainable future for Camberwell Leisure Centre and these submissions present an exciting and challenging opportunity for Camberwell.

?I am pleased we have attracted such high quality submissions and look forward to exploring further some of the great ideas put forward by interested bidders. We will do a careful assessment of the top three bids to see if they are viable and to assess which of them will bring maximum benefit to Camberwell.

?To help us draw up an independent and impartial appraisal we have invited a team of leisure experts from the Freshfield Foundation charitable trust. The Trust has considerable experience in assessing developments with a focus on the benefits they bring to local communities and has expressed a desire to assist with achieving a sustainable future for Camberwell Leisure Centre.?

?In addition to this there will be opportunities for the public and stakeholders to let us know their thoughts on the three bids as well as other internal and external consultations which will lead to a final decision this autumn.?

ENDS

Notes for editors
1. The Freshfield Foundation is a charitable trust with a well-established record of philanthropic work on projects across the country. Its main focus is on sustainable development and projects which support the community, combat the causes of disadvantage and increase community cohesion.
2. Further information about the consultation process will be published shortly.
3. The top three ranking bids are: Fusion, Ash Sakula and Phaze One Ltd, working with the English National Ballet
Further contact details:
Communications Unit
Southwark Council
Town Hall
Peckham Road
London SE5 8UB

Their initial budget for the pools is less than Forest Hill.

The building is similar in age and appearence.

The problems with the pools were similar to Forest Hill or why they closed in the first place.

Read more here:

http://www.camberwellbathscampaign.org/