Fusion collapses as Lambeth steps in to take control of Brockwell Lido and keep doors open under Active Lambeth

Brockwell Lido will remain open after its operator, Fusion Lifestyle, entered administration on 1st April. Lambeth Council is stepping in to take immediate control of the site and bring it back under direct municipal management.

The council confirmed that the Herne Hill facility, including its outdoor pool, gym and café, will transfer fully into its in house leisure service, Active Lambeth, from 1st July.

In the meantime, the authority has moved quickly to ensure there is no interruption to public access, with the Lido continuing to operate as normal despite the collapse of its long term operator.

Fusion Lifestyle, which runs leisure centres across the UK, had been in prolonged financial difficulty and had already been in discussions with the council about the future of Brockwell Lido prior to entering administration.

The move confirms that Lambeth had been preparing for this outcome, with contingency plans now activated to avoid any closure of one of south London’s most heavily used and high profile public swimming sites.

The council said its priority is to maintain continuity of service, protect public access and secure the long term future of the Lido. Existing memberships will continue, with further details to be provided to users ahead of the July transfer date.

Once the handover is complete, the site will be incorporated into the wider Active Lambeth portfolio, giving members access to facilities across the borough.

No formal announcement has been made about the future of staff currently employed at the Lido, many of whom are highly regarded by regular users.

However, it was indicated at a recent Brockwell Lido Users meeting that staff contracts are expected to transfer across to the council as part of the transition, suggesting day to day operations may continue with the same workforce in place.

The development follows growing concerns about Fusion’s stewardship of the site in recent years, with campaigners and user groups repeatedly raising issues around maintenance, investment and overall standards.

At a packed public meeting in March, organised by Brockwell Lido Users, attendees were told that a new charity had already been established and could be deployed if required to help secure the future of the facility.

At the same meeting, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, gave assurances that there would be no break in use if Fusion’s position deteriorated.

Those warnings have now materialised, with the operator’s financial collapse forcing an early end to its involvement in Brockwell Lido ahead of the scheduled expiry of its 25 year lease in 2031.

While the immediate crisis has been averted, significant longer term challenges remain. Years of under investment mean that substantial remedial work is likely to be required simply to maintain safe and sanitary conditions at the site, before any wider refurbishment or upgrade programme can be considered. Campaigners have previously suggested that millions of pounds may be needed to bring the Lido up to standard.

Lambeth points to its recent track record of bringing leisure services back in house as evidence that it can stabilise and improve facilities.

The council says it invested £1.1 million in 2024 to enhance its leisure offer, part of a broader strategy aimed at modernising services, improving financial sustainability and widening access to sport and wellbeing provision.

However, the authority itself faces well documented financial pressures, raising questions about how quickly and extensively it will be able to address the backlog of maintenance issues at Brockwell Lido.

The decision to take control of the site at this stage also reflects a more immediate concern that, without intervention, the council could have found itself competing with other creditors in the wake of Fusion’s collapse.

The implications of Fusion Lifestyle’s administration are expected to extend well beyond Lambeth. The organisation operates numerous leisure facilities nationwide, and its failure is likely to trigger similar interventions, contract renegotiations or emergency takeovers by local authorities across the country in the coming weeks.