Bradford Council plans to sell Bingley Pool, five years after the facility closed. The site will be listed as an Asset of Community Value, allowing local organisations six months to prepare a bid.
The pool, which shut during the pandemic, had been included in a proposal for refurbishment using Levelling Up Funding. The new Labour government later rejected that bid, leaving a funding shortfall.
An internal review found that reopening the site would not be financially viable, even with partial government support. The council stated that additional investment and an external operator would still be required to sustain operations.
Community group Friends of Bingley Pool intends to explore a Community Asset Transfer arrangement. Under this model, the council would retain ownership while the group would seek investment to restore and manage the facility. A full ownership transfer could follow if the project proves viable.
The decision comes as councils across the UK continue to assess the cost of maintaining public leisure assets amid budget constraints and shifting government priorities.