Appleby Leisure Centre reopened recently, following the completion of the latest round of works, which will bring significant energy saving benefits to the building.
Triple glazing was installed in the autumn and 190 solar panels have now been fitted to the roof, thanks to funding from Sport England and Westmorland and Furness Council. Over the past few weeks, a £388,000 investment from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has enabled the first stage of major boiler replacement works to take place.
This works form part of a wider project, funded through a £1.75 million grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is delivered by Salix and run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The grant has helped replace gas boilers with air source heat pumps at key council buildings. This supports the council’s decarbonisation plans, aimed to get Westmorland and Furness to a carbon net zero position by 2037.
The council will match fund a minimum of 12% of the project costs from their prioritised capital maintenance budget, taking the total project value to over £2 million.
The estimated annual total carbon emissions saved from carrying out the above projects is 343.2 tCO2e, the equivalent of driving around the world 52 times.
Appleby Leisure Centre reopened successfully following work to remove the air handling unit and complete preparatory works for the replacement of the existing gas boiler with a more energy efficient air source heat pump. The building’s plant room pipes have also been insulated to reduce heat loss.
There will need to be a further short closure at a later date, which is yet to be confirmed, to allow for the final connection of the air source heat pump, following confirmation from electricity suppliers.
Cllr John Murray, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Regulatory Services, said:
“Getting the pool reopened is a great outcome for local residents, and it shows the value of investing in energy efficient upgrades. By improving the performance of buildings like our leisure centres, we are reducing running costs and carbon emissions at the same time. This funding helps us continue that journey towards net zero, while ensuring vital community facilities remain affordable and sustainable to operate.”
Cllr Andrew Jarvis Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance said:
“We are really pleased to see the swimming pool back open for our communities to enjoy. This grant builds on earlier investment that has already made a real difference, including energy saving measures such as triple glazing and solar PV. These improvements not only help keep facilities open and fit for the future, but also support our wider ambition to achieve net zero while cutting long term energy costs.”
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger said:
“At Salix we’re proud to support projects like Appleby Leisure Centre, where targeted investment is delivering immediate carbon savings alongside long-term operational benefits.
“This scheme shows how decarbonisation funding can help councils modernise essential community facilities for local people, while making meaningful progress toward net zero.”
Since 2020, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has enabled public authorities to fund works to decarbonise their estates in support of national decarbonisation targets. Salix is currently delivering the final phase, Phase 4, projects up until 2028.
Westmorland and Furness Council previously won funding under the Low Carbon Skills Fund award, also delivered by Salix and now closed. This helped fund decarbonisation assessments at all 69 council managed schools and funding for triple glazing and solar PV works at Appleby and Penrith Leisure Centres from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.
The council would like to thank the local community for their patience, understanding and continued support whilst the swimming pool at Appleby Leisure Centre has been closed to allow the works to take place. These improvements are a vital investment in the long term sustainability of the facility, and pool users have shown positive support during this period, as work is carried out towards delivering a more efficient and environmentally responsible pool for everyone to enjoy.