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Following a successful application to the UK Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), North Somerset Council has secured a grant of £2,344,518 to be spent on a range of energy efficiency measures at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre.
Six gas-powered boilers will be replaced with air source heat pumps using the PSDS funding, removing any reliance on gas to heat the centre’s leisure facilities, which includes two swimming pools.
The money will also be used to upgrade the insulation throughout the building and replace windows, to further improve energy efficiency. Together, the PSDS-funded improvements will make an estimated annual saving of 340 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Hutton Moor Leisure Centre is owned by North Somerset Council, and operated by Parkwood Leisure. The PSDS funding is delivered by Salix, who work with the UK Government to provide public sector funding schemes which reduce carbon emissions to reach net zero goals.
Under a separate project, plans are already underway to install solar PV panels at the centre using external funding from Sport England, so the building can generate its own electricity and further reduce energy costs.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for leisure, said: “Hutton Moor Leisure Centre is our largest leisure centre in North Somerset, with more than 600,000 people using the site every year. Condition surveys identified that the boilers were over 11 years old and needed replacing, so this funding has come along at just the right time.
“A big thank you must go to our partners Parkwood Leisure who played a crucial role in putting together our successful bid, helping us to create a healthier, happier, greener North Somerset.”
Councillor Annemieke Waite, North Somerset Council’s executive member for climate, said: “We want to make North Somerset a thriving and sustainable place to live, work and visit. We have made a commitment to be a net zero carbon emissions council and area by 2030 and I’m so pleased we’ll be replacing the outdated fossil fuel boilers at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre. This is a significant step forwards on the centre’s decarbonisation journey.”
Glen Hall, Managing Director of Parkwood Leisure, said: “We are delighted that we were able to assist North Somerset Council in their successful application for this funding. We look forward to working with them, alongside our operating partner, Legacy Leisure to deliver this project and ensure the long term sustainability of the centre, which we have no doubt will benefit the local community for years to come, supporting healthier, happier lives.”
Ian Rodger, Director of Programmes at Salix, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with North Somerset Council on its journey to net zero and replacing the old fossil fuel boilers at Hutton Moor Leisure is part of its plans to reduce carbon emissions. The leisure centre is a popular venue, and these works will not only provide a more energy efficient building but will create a healthier place to work and enjoy.”
The UK Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) provides part-match funded grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. North Somerset Council will provide £402,039 of partnership funding, bringing the total investment in this project to £2,746,557.