Following Sport England and council investment to install triple glazing and 190 solar panels to the roof, the next stage of works will soon begin at Appleby Leisure Centre. A £388,000 investment from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will bring more carbon and energy saving benefits to the building as major boiler replacement works get underway.
Council decarbonisation plans aimed to get Westmorland and Furness to a carbon net zero position by 2037 were given an additional boost, thanks to £1.75 million in funding, confirmed in 2025, for works at four key buildings.
The council applied to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to fund works at Kendal Leisure Centre, Appleby Leisure Centre, Kendal Market and South Lakeland House, as the gas boilers in each building were due for replacement.
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix. The programme enables public authorities to fund works to decarbonise their estates in support of national decarbonisation targets.
All buildings will have their gas boilers replaced with air source heat pumps alongside additional energy saving works.
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.
This grant award builds on previous successful applications for funding, including the Low Carbon Skills Fund award, also delivered by Salix, for 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 next phase of works at Appleby Leisure Centre, funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, will get underway week commencing 30 March, as contractors remove the air handling unit and begin 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 will also be insulated to reduce heat loss.
To allow these works to happen safely for leisure centre users and staff, the swimming pool will need to close from Monday 30 March for an estimated 6 weeks. The gym and changing facilities will stay open throughout. 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.
There will be reduced parking on site to accommodate the contractor’s compound during the works. To ease congestion on the site we would advise those who are able, to consider walking when possible, look at public transport routes or park in an alternative location. Due to the flood risk management project also taking place in the town, please check current updates on traffic management and car parking on the Environment Agency website.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) who manage Appleby Leisure Centre on behalf of the council will be in contact with membership holders and swimming lesson customers with further information before the boiler works begin.
GLL are contacting schools directly to discuss alternative health and physical activity sessions.
During the works, Appleby memberships will be accepted at all other GLL Cumbria Centres, the closest being Penrith Leisure Centre, Kendal Leisure Centre and The Sands Centre, Carlisle. Full timetables for these centres are available on the GLL website and in the centres. Sessions for these alternative centres will be available to book via the Better UK app, the GLL contact centre and at GLL leisure centre reception desks.
Cllr Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“Westmorland and Furness aims to be a place where people can live, work, and thrive, while taking a leading role in the shift toward carbon net zero. With the Carbon Management Strategy 2024–2029 as its guide, the Council is steadily advancing toward its target of reaching net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2037, supported by a clear, phased plan to cut carbon output.
“Securing funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme directly supports this strategy, enabling building decarbonisation projects that will deliver real, measurable reductions in the Council’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions”.
Cllr Andrew Jarvis Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance said:
“We are investing significantly in upgrades across our buildings and have secured funding from multiple sources to make these facilities more energy efficient and drive forward our net zero goals.
“The commencement of works funded through the latest round of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme marks an important step, strengthening our commitment to enhancing building performance and reducing costs for the council.”
Assistant director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Heather Jones said:
“Reaching this next milestone at Appleby Leisure Centre marks a significant step in moving away from fossil fuel‑based heating.
“The work demonstrates Westmorland and Furness Council’s commitment to reaching its net zero targets while future-proofing essential community facilities for its residents.
“We are proud to continue supporting the council in delivering this important work.”