FAQS

A swimming pond (or natural swimming pool – the two terms are interchangeable in our view) is essentially a low-nutrient wildlife pond.

The water in a swimming pond is essentially the same as the water in a mountain lake, which is naturally low in nutrients because there is very little run-off containing nutrients (because there is minimal impact from people, animals and vegetation).

When the water is low in nutrients the primary production (ie plants, which include algae) is much slower, and can be controlled more easily. As a result – if the water is low in nutrients – it is quite easy to keep the water clear, and to have minimal blanketweed growth. Blanketweed is also known as string algae and its growth is harder to completely eliminate. It generally appears as fur on the walls and floor of the swimming pond and can be removed by brushing the walls on a monthly basis. (See How much maintenance is needed?)

Different companies use different methods to minimise the nutrient level in the water. We have been building swimming ponds for 21 years and in that time have developed a very good understanding of water filtration and how to keep nutrient levels low. Basically we target phosphates as the limiting factor, although there are also other important aspects of water filtration. Plants perform some of the function of keeping nutrient levels low, but the main filtration function is the circulation through certain aggregates which absorb phosphates.

The result is water which is completely clear and also soft – many people describe it as like “swimming in silk”.

We developed Eco Swimming Ponds to make a more affordable swimming pond, but which still retains most of the advantages of a more bespoke swimming pond.

An Eco Swimming Pond has:

• The same excellent water quality as a bespoke swimming pond.
• The same planting around the 2m perimeter of the central swimming area
• The same dedication to ecological sustainability – Eco Swimming Ponds are CO2 neutral
• A specialist and patented filtration material which is supplied by us and which means that a swimming pond can be built anywhere.

An Eco Swimming pond does not have:

• A bespoke design, shape, or size – the designs are standardized and the size is always 12m x 8m, with a central 8m x 4m swimming area
• Additional heating or lighting

Our standard Eco Swimming Pond price is £85,000 incl VAT.  

There may be additions to this cost if:

• You live a long way from the M25 – we can work this out from your post code
• You need planning permission and we take care of this – we have successfully managed over 150 planning applications in over 20 years so we suggest we do this. You will need planning permission if:
  • The property is listed, or
  • You are in an AONB, or
  • The pond location is outside curtilage (this usually means outside the garden area, eg in a field or paddock)
• Your access width is less than 2.25m
• Spoil needs to be removed rather than spread on site.

If you are interested then please Get a Quote.

Our filtration system does not use UV or other methods of killing micro-organisms. Some companies do this, however we believe this sterilization affects the “feel” of a swimming pond. It is hard to scientifically explain – and maybe not possible – but there is a “presence” to a swimming pond which, we believe, is because the water is completely alive, as well as being completely clean. You need to be next to a swimming pond, and ideally get in it, to appreciate this.

A swimming pond needs much less maintenance than a conventional pool, as there are no chemicals to add and manage and the water does not need to be drained for cleaning and repairs

Nature itself carries out most of the cleaning service, but it is still a living and growing part of the garden and it needs looking after in a similar way.  The key to managing time spent on maintenance is ensuring the pond receives a small amount of regular attention. This amounts to emptying the skimmer and ensuring that any leaves which may have blown in do not build up in large quantities.

Removing leaves (and discouraging ducks from visiting the pond) helps to keep the water’s nutrient levels low.  On this basis (i.e. no extreme nutrients enter the pond) we can guarantee the water to be completely clear all the time.

Many people like to spend time looking after their pond themselves. However we also have a dedicated maintenance team and offer a maintenance service which can be as often or infrequent as you need.  We generally recommend that our maintenance team visits at least once a year to check on the pond’s development and its equipment.

Swimming ponds currently fall into the same official category as swimming pools, and according to current regulations (Town and Country Planning Act 2015, Part 1, Class E) you generally do not need planning permission if:

1. Your property is not listed, and
2. The site is within the curtilage of the property, and
3. You are not in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

The regulation stipulates other requirements but these three are nearly always the main ones.  In addition you should be aware if permitted development rights have been withdrawn for any reason (usually at the time of previous development), or if there are any tree preservation orders (TPOs) on trees which are close to the pond or necessary access routes.

If your property is listed, or if you want to build on agricultural land, or if you are in an AONB, then planning permission will be required.

We have a lot of experience in getting planning permission for swimming ponds and still have a 100% success rate in more than 150 applications spanning over 20 years, so please talk to us if you need to discuss further your specific situation.