Open-air tidal pool proposed in town’s £12m facelift

The Nairn Community Spa and Lido Company believes the transformation would help restore the holiday town's credentials.

Open-air tidal pool proposed in town’s £12m facelift The Nairn Spa and Lido Company Ltd

A dramatic facelift could be on the cards for Nairn’s beachside public swimming pool.

An open-air tidal pool and spa have been proposed on the foreshore by a charity eyeing up a potential £12m redevelopment.

The Nairn Community Spa and Lido Company believes the transformation would help restore the popular holiday town’s credentials as one of Scotland’s top coastal destinations.

It envisages a lagoon pool on the shore being added to the existing gymnasium and 25-metre pool.

The charity is confident that the revamp could be a “game changer” capable of a projected turnover of £4m and create almost 60 jobs.

It would take the existing Highland Council-owned complex into community ownership.

A public consultation will follow.

An initial application to take over the existing leisure centre via the community asset transfer scheme has been lodged with the council.

A glazed dome featuring solar panels would replace the existing roof.

The original baths date back to the 19th century – the vision of local doctor John Grigor who put Nairn firmly on the tourist map as a spa town.