Tropicana Work to start soon on major revamp after plans approved

MAJOR plans to reinvent Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana as a “nationally significant” venue for culture, arts, and entertainment have been given the green light.

- John WIMPERIS

North Somerset Council’s planning committee voted 9-3 to approve the council’s own planning application for the transformation of the iconic former lido. The scheme means replacing the 1980s indoor venue on the site with a new purpose-built indoor venue, while repairing and restoring the iconic 1930s promenade building.

Council leader Mike Bell said he was “very excited.” He said: “I’m absolutely delighted it has been given approval. This is a really exciting scheme for Weston-super-Mare and crucially, unlike all the failed schemes of the past, we are absolutely going to deliver it. And people can look forward to it opening next year.”

Construction will begin this summer with an aim to be complete by summer 2026. The venue will be able to host events of up to 1,000 people indoors and a total of 5,000 people across the whole site.

It will create 15 full-time jobs, along with hundreds of part-time jobs for large events. It is believed it will generate £40 million in economic benefits for the area over the next 10 years.