Consultants are recommending a traditional build and forecasting running cost savings of around £279,000 a year compared to the old facility.
Neath Port Talbot Council will present the findings of a feasibility study into a replacement swimming pool for Pontardawe at its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 3 September.
The study identifies a preferred location north of the existing Pontardawe Leisure Centre, on the site of the current tennis courts and a small play park. Consultants say this site offers the best operational advantages, allowing shared staffing and facilities with the leisure centre.
The proposed new pool would feature a six-lane, 25-metre pool with a learner pool, alongside a sauna and steam room. Because the pool would link directly to the existing leisure centre, no additional reception or studio space would be required, reducing overall costs.
Consultants also compared a lower-cost membrane-covered pool promoted by Swim England with a traditional build. The report recommends a traditional construction due to its longer design life and lower risk profile.
According to the feasibility study, the new facility could operate at around £279,000 less per year than the former pool, mainly due to energy efficiencies and shared staffing.
The total estimated build cost is £14.9 million. Efficiency savings could support approximately £4 million through prudential borrowing, leaving a £10.8 million funding shortfall with no external funding identified at this stage.
The former Pontardawe Swimming Pool was permanently closed in May 2024 after surveys confirmed it was unsafe, and the building has since been demolished. A Cabinet report at the time noted the closure had a “significant impact on Valley Communities”.
Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism & Wellbeing, said:
“We commissioned the feasibility study because we understand how important swimming provision is to the people of Pontardawe and the surrounding area. The completion of the study is a step forward and it strengthens our ability to secure funding in the future.
“We will continue to explore all available avenues to secure the necessary funding.”
The full Cabinet report and feasibility study can be viewed on the Neath Port Talbot Council website.
