Maggie,

Willow Way is not really a lower cost. Both pools would cost between ?12-13m. The difference in affordability comes from Lewisham council saying that they will assume money will come from house building on the existing pools site (approximately 60 flats, with profit figures based on 2007 values), but they are not willing to consider cross-subsidising the Dartmouth Road site by developing Willow Way. If this were included Dartmouth Road would be quite close to Willow Way in affordability.

I also do not think the real issue for most people is affordability, it is timing. Unfortunately by not considering cross-subsidy of the existing pools from development on Willow Way, the council are forcing local people to accept one option.

The feasibility study makes it clear that planning risks associated with the Willow Way site are high. It would not be the first time they pursued one option to the complete exclusion of other risks (the listing of Louise House).

According to all London and national guidelines the pool should be kept where it is, and it would not surprise me if Willow Way Pool and housing on the existing, well positioned, leisure site is significantly harder to achieve than the council are admitting - purely from a planning perspective.