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Hydrotherapy Pool for Severe and Complex Needs School, Herefordshire

RRA Architects > Hydrotherapy Pool for Severe and Complex Needs School, Herefordshire
  • A proposed hydrotherapy pool for a school for severe and complex needs in Herefordshire, created to support therapy, wellbeing and inclusive access. The scheme brings together specialist facilities for pupils, carers and the wider community, combining healthcare and leisure within a single, welcoming building. The design focuses on accessibility, flexibility and user experience, providing a safe and uplifting environment where individuals can benefit from hydrotherapy while also creating a valuable community asset.
  • Location: Leominster, Herefordshire
  • Planning Consultants: Evans Jones
  • Categories: Education, Healthcare & Public Sector, Leisure & Retail
  • Tags: accessible design, Community Facilities, education architecture, healthcare architecture, Hereford Architects, Herefordshire architecture, hydrotherapy pool, inclusive architecture, leisure facilities, public sector architecture, sensory design UK, severe and complex needs, therapy pool design
Entrance design for hydrotherapy pool building at special needs school Herefordshire
Entrance design for hydrotherapy pool building at special needs school Herefordshire
3D plan of hydrotherapy pool facility showing layout of pool changing rooms and support spaces Herefordshire
Watercolour style visualisation of accessible hydrotherapy pool interior with hoists sensory lighting and seating.
  • Entrance design for hydrotherapy pool building at special needs school Herefordshire
  • Entrance design for hydrotherapy pool building at special needs school Herefordshire
  • 3D plan of hydrotherapy pool facility showing layout of pool changing rooms and support spaces Herefordshire
  • Watercolour style visualisation of accessible hydrotherapy pool interior with hoists sensory lighting and seating.

The project was developed in close collaboration with the school to provide a high quality hydrotherapy facility tailored to the needs of pupils, carers and visiting users. The brief included a fully accessible pool, specialist changing facilities and integrated support systems, ensuring the building could accommodate a wide range of physical and sensory requirements.

Each changing room was designed with overhead hoists to allow safe and dignified access, with hoist systems also extending over the pool itself. Accessible showers and toilets were carefully planned alongside secure storage and lockers, creating a practical and easy to navigate environment.

The internal environment enhances the therapeutic experience. A sensory system incorporating colour changing lighting, projection and surround sound allows users to adjust the atmosphere to suit individual needs, supporting both relaxation and stimulation.

A key aspect of the design was ensuring the building could operate safely for both school use and wider community access. The entrance and circulation were carefully planned to allow secure separation between school and public users. During school hours, pupils can access the facility safely and directly, while at other times the building can be opened for private hire, providing an income stream to support long term operation.

To support this dual use, the scheme also includes a café and flexible meeting spaces, encouraging wider community use and improving the long term viability of the facility.

The project began with a feasibility study to explore the needs of the school and the surrounding community. This informed the development of a detailed design used for consultation, funding applications and fundraising.

While the scheme generated strong support, it was affected by the combined impact of the Covid pandemic and extensive planning delays due to the high phosphate levels in the Herefordshire waterways. As a result, the project funding was affected and the project had to be postponed. Despite this, the scheme designed for a school for severe and complex needs, demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can support inclusive education, health and wellbeing.