In a groundbreaking move, Southwark Council has unveiled plans to transform a historic Grade II listed gas holder in South London into a one-of-a-kind outdoor swimming facility. The proposed park, to be named after the gas works founder George Livesey, would see the centre of the 19th-century gas holder repurposed as a natural swimming pond, complemented by a reed-bed filtration system.
According to council officials, the facility would be a truly exceptional offering, with nothing comparable in London, the UK, or even Europe. “What we’re proposing is to convert that into an open outdoor wild swimming provision,” a council officer told a recent committee meeting. “It would be cold water swimming, and the idea is it would be filtered naturally through reed beds, so nice and bio-diverse.”
The plans are part of a wider regeneration project along the Old Kent Road, which will also see the development of 800 homes on land owned by gas distribution company SGN near the gas holder. Council documents describe the proposed swimming pond as “a unique health offer” that would be “really quite a nice fit with George Livesey,” the Victorian philanthropist who founded the gas works.
Livesey, known for his community initiatives such as building a local library and hosting allotments and sports grounds, would likely have approved of the council’s vision to transform the historic landmark into a hub for outdoor recreation and natural conservation.
While the plans are still in the early stages, with the council currently “scoping out the business case and the costs,” the proposal has already generated significant excitement. “It would be unique, not just in London, but anywhere,” the council officer added. “There isn’t a historic gas holder with a swimming pool in it.”
The project’s success will depend on securing the necessary approvals and funding, but if realised, it could provide a truly unique and environmentally-conscious recreational amenity for the local community and visitors alike.