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Tinside Lido, Plymouth
Accoya helps restore an icon: The Grade II listed Tinside Lido, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Architect: LHC Design
Photo Credit to the images © Richard Downer and © LHC Design
Accoya helps restore an icon: The Grade II listed Linside Lido, Plymouth, UK
As part of Plymouth City Council’s National Marine Park project, the restoration of the Grade II listed Tinside Lido has transformed the iconic 1935 Art Deco seafront landmark into a resilient, year-round destination for visitors.
Located on the edge of Plymouth Hoe, the project faced the challenge of preserving a heritage asset in one of the UK’s most demanding coastal environments. The redevelopment required materials capable of withstanding salt spray, high humidity, storm exposure and heavy public use, while delivering long-term value and sustainability.
Accoya is showcased in a range of applications on the project, including sun terrace decking, external doors, windows, benches, planters and handrails, as well as in sensitive joinery repairs. Medite Tricoya Extreme Panels were engineered into large-format seasonal storm shutters, providing low maintenance protection during winter months. Installation was delivered by Nevada Construction, under the planning guidance of Devon & Cornwall Planning Consultant.
Accoya’s stability and durability allowed the design team to introduce slimmer profiles and tighter tolerances, particularly across curved and exposed components aligned with the Lido’s Art Deco geometry, while maintaining structural reliability.
Left uncoated, the timber will weather to a uniform silver-grey, eliminating repeat finishing cycles and aligning visually with the coastal context. The material choice therefore serves both architectural intent and operational efficiency.
Sustainability was embedded from procurement through performance modelling. Accoya’s FSC® (CO12330) sourcing and extended service life supported a low-embodied-carbon strategy, critical in public-sector regeneration projects increasingly scrutinised for lifecycle impact. Less frequent replacement and lower maintenance improve long-term carbon impact and make costs more predictable.
As an architect, my role is to honour the past while shaping spaces that endure over time. At Tinside Lido, every decision had to support longevity, precision, and aesthetics in one of the UK’s most challenging coastal environments – no small task. Accoya allowed us to revitalise the Lido’s Art Deco elegance with durable, low-maintenance elements that will endure decades of public use.”
Matt Oxley, Architec at LHC Design
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