'What's changed?': Confusion as The Dome reopens after £15million refurbishment by Doncaster Council
Social media users have questioned the £15million refurbishment since it was announced The Dome would reopen.
The City of Doncaster Council has issued a fresh statement after the unveiling of a £15million refurbishment of The Dome was met with backlash online.
Visitors to The Dome leisure centre were left wondering what had changed when the site’s pool facilities, known as the Lagoons, recently reopened.
When the refurb got underway the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, shared artist impressions online of what The Dome could soon look like, but those plans never materialised, with an initial statement from the council suggesting most work had been done “behind-the-scenes”.
Mangu Batt, aged 27, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I don’t know where that £15million’s gone.
“Nothing’s really changed except they have just tidied it up a bit. I can’t see any major progress.”
Councillor Nick Allen, who represents Bessacarr ward where The Dome is the closest gym and swimming option for residents, said people had “a right to feel let down” by the apparent lack of change.
“I understand why people are so disappointed about what was promised and what has been delivered… It does seem that very little has actually changed despite such an enormous cash injection,” he said.
Cllr Allen said he felt the situation at The Dome should prompt questions on the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, due to what he described as an “incongruous relationship between promise and delivery”.
A spokesperson for the council responded to the online backlash.
They said: “Work at Doncaster Dome has included refurbishment of the lagoons, flumes and the changing rooms areas, as well as many vital behind the scenes upgrades to ensure the centre remains functional including mechanical and electrical system upgrades and significant replacement of the glazed roof in areas such as the entrance and foyer.
“Many of the upgrades were vital to meet the site’s Grade II listing status, which was awarded in 2023.
“Artist impressions that were shared at the early stage of the project, including the concept of an outdoor splash area, weren’t finalised plans at that time and following further feasibility studies were later not adopted.”
The spokesperson said the council had had a positive response to the reopening “through bookings received,”adding: “We know swimmers are keen to enjoy visiting the Dome pool once more.”
The Lagoons had been closed for 18 months as the refurbishment took place, which Doncaster Council invested more than £15m into.
It reopened on Friday, May 22, 2026, in time for the half-term break.
The Dome, run by the Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust on behalf of the council, is home to numerous leisure facilities, including a gym, which has received criticism in recent months from two teenage regulars for being “unsafe” and “unsanitary”.