David Minton, founder of LeisureDB said: ‘We must challenge ourselves to review how we position pools. Local authorities are focused on appropriate provision for their communities, and swimming and water-based sports are clear contributors to health and wellbeing.’

‘Going forward, we must find ways to (re)position what we offer so pools cease to be viewed as a drain on the budget and instead are celebrated for the value they bring to communities.’

GLL, the UK’s largest swimming pool provider, is already aligning its facilities with health and water safety objectives. Andrew Clark, head of sports and aquatics, notes: ‘Leisure feels like a choice; health feels essential.’ GLL’s swim school is thriving, with a 4% year-on-year growth and 220,000 students participating nationwide each week.

Despite these successes, the report found that the number of swimming pools is declining, with a 1.8% reduction from 4,351 in 2023 to 4,272 in 2024. This decline is compared to 4,559 pools before the pandemic. Public leisure centres have seen a decrease from 1,646 to 1,613, a 2% drop, with 25 pools closing and only nine opening. In the private sector, pools have also decreased by 2%, from 1,309 to 1,283.

The report identifies key challenges for operators, including rising energy and maintenance costs, aging infrastructure, and difficulties in recruiting swimming teachers and lifeguards. However, innovation is underway, with advancements like AI-assisted lifeguard technologies improving safety and operational efficiency.

The RLSS’s National Pool Lifeguarding Qualification is now eligible for UCAS points, attracting students who could help address the lifeguard shortage as 66% of lifeguards are currently in education.

The newly formed Swim Alliance aims to unify the sector, advocating for the social, health and economic benefits of swimming, and urging the government to support existing pools and replace outdated ones.

The demand for swimming remains strong. Nuffield Health, the largest private pool operator, reports a 10% year-on-year increase in web traffic to its swim pages and notes that adults who swim retain their gym memberships for five months longer than those who do not. Total Fitness has also launched a Swim Academy to meet growing demand.

The report also highlights several innovative design and energy-saving measures. For instance, at St Sidwell’s Point in Exeter, architects S&P have employed tepid spaces by placing warm pools and cold gyms in separate corridors to prevent heat loss.

OS Generation Group, a specialist in on-site energy generation, uses technologies like solar panels, heat pumps and CHP units to reduce energy costs. Barrow Park Leisure Centre, which has partnered with the company, saves over £30,000 annually on energy and reduces carbon emissions by 36 tonnes each year.

Freedom Leisure is collaborating with Airius to cut heating costs by 35% through technology that redistributes warm air from the ceiling back to the pool surface, achieving a return on investment within two years.

The average cost for a public swim in the UK has risen to £5.59, with London being 13% above the average at £6.31. The cheapest swim is in Ireland at £4.31. GLL operates the most pools, with 140, followed by Everyone Active with 136 and Freedom Leisure with 73.

Among top operators, Parkwood Leisure offers the lowest average swim price at £5.40, while High Life Highland charges the highest at £7.63. Private clubs have seen a 2% decrease in pool numbers, and the average membership fee for private health clubs with pools has risen by 6.2% to £78.97. The independent sector has experienced a 1% drop, from 402 to 398 clubs with pools.

For further details, the full report is available for free at www.leisuredb.com/publications.