A Bath landmark could reopen as soon as 2010, thanks to funding from a charity set up by Prince Charles.

The Prince's Regeneration Trust is at the heart of plans to revive Cleveland Pools – also known as Cleveland Baths.

It is the only remaining Georgian open-air swimming pool in the country and has not been used by swimmers since 1981, but with the help of the public, the charity is hoping to bring it back into use.

The site in Hampton Row is owned by Bath and North East Somerset Council and was put on the market in August with a £400,000 guide price.

The charity is confident its bid will be successful.

Chief executive Ros Kerslake said: "We have put forward an offer to the council to acquire the pool as a charitable trust with a view to reopening to the public.

"We think with the growth of interest in outdoor swimming we will get a lot of support from the community. The trust can bring a lot of expertise to the project. We are used to regenerating historic sites up and down the country.

"What we do is bring the capacity to make things happen.

"But for this to happen, local people will need to support it. We really need people to put the time and energy in to make this happen.

"We would be looking to make sure the facility works for different categories of people at different times of the day. For this to be successful it is very important to work with the council and their reaction to the proposal has been positive.

"I love Bath – it is a fantastic city and clearly an important World Heritage Site.

"The lido is a wonderful asset. There aren't any other facilities like it in the city where you can enjoy a swim and lie out on the grass."

The charity will be working closely with the Cleveland Pools Trust which has been campaigning for the restoration of the baths since the early 1990s.

The main pool, once D-shaped, was built in front of a small cottage in 1815. It is likely the new lido would have a cafe and a smaller children's area which would help to support the running of the facility.

It is estimated the project will cost in the region of £2 million, which is likely to be raised from lottery fund sources.

The main buildings, which include a cottage and changing cubicles, are largely unaltered, and are Grade II listed.

Bath-based Trevor Osborne, of the Osborne Group property firm, is backing the bid.

He said: "I got involved when I heard that the Cleveland Pools Trust had been formed to try to save the baths. It would have been a tragedy if the lido had just been abandoned.

"It is a wonderful facility for residents and people that come to stay in the city in our hotel and others.

"I am very keen to see it restored to its former glory, so it was a natural thing for me to agree to help.

"We want to reflect the current aspirations for leisure against the backdrop of a magnificent Georgian building. This is a spa city and people would like to be able to swim outdoors in a heated pool where their children are safe."

The council has refused to say how many other bids it received for the property.