York city centre could be home to a lido-style outdoor public swimming pool as part of the large-scale York Central development. The project is supported by £138 million of public funding for site preparation such as roads and groundwork.
Speaking previously about the project Allan Cook, founder of Arlington Real Estate, said: “York Central is recognised as one of the largest city-centre regeneration schemes in the UK and will bring significant benefits, not only to the people of York and its visitors but also to the broader economy. This is a landmark project, and the completion of the formal Development Agreement marks another important milestone.
“Creating a brand-new city quarter in the heart of York, with its own entrance to one of the UK’s most well-connected railway stations, is an incredible opportunity. We are excited to deliver a space that will do justice to its unique location and heritage.”
Allan Cook told The Press that they are considering the idea of an all-year-round lido as “a gift to the city”, saying “We are exploring the possibility of a lido, a present for York—an all-season lido. It would form part of the park and could feature geothermal heating, with hot pools and a lido. It’s something we aspire to achieve.”
With sustainability at the heart of the project, they have tests planed to see if the whole development can be heated using geothermal energy from underground hot water sources. This involves drilling 1.5km hole to see if the water is hot enough of flows.
Allan Cook and his colleague, Tom, added: “We are committed to working with all partners to finally bring this remarkable project to life—the infrastructure is already underway, and we are now focused on moving the development forward.”p the detailed designs to offer as many benefits as possible to everyone in York.”
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