Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need planning permission for an outdoor pool?
Often not. A private pool in the garden of a house is usually treated as permitted development. Permission becomes more likely where the property is listed or sits in a conservation area or protected landscape, where the pool is part of a wider scheme such as a pool house, or where significant groundworks or changes to levels are involved. Commercial pools for hotels, spas and leisure use almost always need planning permission.
We advise on this at the start of every project and will liaise with your architect or planning consultant where needed.
How much does it cost to run and heat a pool each year?
It depends on the size of the pool, whether it is indoors or out, how it is heated, how well it is insulated and covered, and how much it is used. As a guide for a domestic pool: heating typically £500 to £2,500 a year (gas is the most expensive; an air source heat pump or solar thermal can cut this considerably); pumps and filtration £300 to £700; chemicals and routine maintenance £200 to £400. In round terms, most private pools cost £1,000 to £3,500 a year to run.
Good insulation, an automatic cover, efficient plant and sensible heating control make the biggest difference, and we design for low running costs from the outset.
What is the right size for a family pool?
For a family of four to six, a pool of around 10 m by 5 m gives room to swim, play and relax without feeling cramped. If lap swimming is the priority, aim for 12 m or longer; for leisure, a wider, shallower pool works better. A depth running from about 1.0 m to 2.0 m suits children and adults alike. Allow space around the pool for safe surrounds, decking, seating and planting, and bear in mind that a larger pool costs more to heat and maintain.
Can I have a chlorine-free private pool?
There are alternatives, including salt-water chlorination (which still produces chlorine in the water), ozone, UV and mineral systems, and each has its place. For most private pools we recommend a properly designed chlorine system, often paired with UV or ozone to reduce the amount of chemical needed. Correctly balanced, it gives the best combination of water clarity, hygiene and swimmer safety, and it is what the PWTAG guidance is built around. We will talk you through the options and what each means for running costs and maintenance.
How much will an indoor pool cost to build?
Every indoor pool is different, so treat these as broad starting points for Northern Ireland and Ireland: a straightforward indoor pool from around £30,000 to £60,000; a mid-range pool with bespoke features £60,000 to £120,000; high-end luxury pools and wellness suites from £120,000 upwards. On top of the pool itself, allow for the building or structural work, heating, ventilation and humidity control, finishes and tiling, lighting and automation, and any sauna, steam room or spa.
The most reliable way to fix the number is a proper design and bill of quantities, which is exactly what our detailed design and proposal stage produces — and it comes with a fixed price for the build.
Why use a specialist pool builder rather than a general contractor?
A pool is not simply a room with water in it. It is a structure, a water treatment plant, a ventilation problem and a finish, and those four have to be designed together or they fight each other later. We design the pool and then build it ourselves, so there is no gap between the drawing and the site, and no argument about whose responsibility a detail was. A general builder will usually sub the pool out and manage it at arm's length. We are the people doing the work, on site, with trades we have used for years.
Do you work with architects and design teams?
Yes, regularly. We join the design team as the pool and wellness specialist, providing setting-out drawings, performance specifications, bills of quantities and plant room requirements in a form that can go straight into your package. Through the build we coordinate with the M&E consultant and main contractor so the pool, plant and wellness rooms are installed as designed — or we take on the pool and wellness package as builder, where that suits the project better.
Do you work on hotels, spas and commercial projects?
Yes. We design and build pools, thermal suites and full wellness circuits for hotels, resorts and spas, including the plant, ventilation and water treatment needed to meet PWTAG and commercial standards, through to commissioning and handover. We also refurbish and upgrade existing hotel and spa facilities, and maintain them afterwards.
How long does a project take?
It depends on the scale of the scheme and on planning and construction programmes. Design and tender come first and are the quickest stage; the build then follows the main contractor's programme, with the pool and wellness installation coordinated around it. We give you a realistic programme at the outset and keep it updated as the project develops.
Will my pool appear on your website?
No. Our private clients value their privacy, so we never publish photographs of a client's home or pool. References can be arranged on request.