The countdown has begun to the redevelopment of Saltdean Lido.

Brighton and Hove City Council is looking for interested parties to occupy the lido site under a full repairing lease until 2063.

A bidders’ briefing meeting will be held at the Grade II listed building on March 26 for people interested in taking up the option on the 50-year lease. The local authority wants the contract to go to a group that will make the lido into an accessible, year-round community and leisure facility, with an improved pool and better library facilities, which is able to pay for itself.

Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (CIC), which has been set up by members of the Save Saltdean Lido campaign, has already unveiled its plan for the site. If its bid is successful, it said Wave Leisure Trust, which runs swimming pools in the Lewes area, will take over the running of some of the facilities.

Rebecca Crook, the chairman of Saltdean Lido CIC, said: “Our plans are intended to stimulate debate and to get feedback.”

Anyone wanting to take over the running of the lido will have to make written submissions to the council and talk with officers.

The local authority has £335,000 in developer’s contributions from the redevelopment of the Ocean Hotel in Saltdean that can be invested in the lido.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “This fund is available for use within the Saltdean area as a contribution towards community uses or open space and has to be spent by January 2017.

“The funding cannot be used to address health and safety or maintenance issues at the lido, but could be used to provide upgraded facilities for the wider community as part of an agreed strategy for the whole site. Bidders need to be explicit as to whether or not their bid is subject to the availability of this funding.”

For more information contact claire.hutchinson@brightonhove.gov.uk