Decarbonisation works set to get underway at Loughborough Leisure Centre
Work is due to begin to replace the heating system at Loughborough Leisure Centre to help the facility move towards becoming net zero.
The centre, owned by Charnwood Borough Council, is benefitting from £2.7 million from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which aims to reduce emissions from public sector buildings.
The funding is being used to replace the centre’s gas boilers with air source heat pumps, which will lower carbon emissions by approximately 452 tonnes a year and assist towards the leisure centre’s journey to becoming net zero. It is also expected to bring utility bills at the leisure centre down by around £66,000 a year.
Work also took place last year to install 216 solar panels to the leisure centre’s roof, thanks to a grant from the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund worth £235,000.
Cllr Beverley Gray, the Council’s Lead Member for Climate Action and Net Zero, said: “I am really pleased that work is due to begin to improve the heating system at Loughborough Leisure Centre to help us cut costs and reduce carbon emissions for years to come.
“Leisure centres require a lot of energy to operate, from keeping the swimming pool warm to powering changing rooms and gym facilities. This new heating system can support all of these functions while dramatically cutting carbon emissions.
“We are already seeing the benefit of the solar panels which were added to the building and I look forward to the project progressing.”
Cllr Anne Gray, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Open Spaces and Leisure Facilities, said: “With rising energy costs over the past few years, this investment and improvement in Loughborough Leisure Centre will be vital moving forward.
“We welcome thousands of visitors to our three leisure centres in Charnwood, and this will maintain the high standard of facilities on offer.”
As part of the project, all gas boilers are being removed and a new, separate plant room will be installed. This will be integrated into the building with updated heating components.
Roof, cavity wall and pipework insulation will be installed alongside a new energy management system.
The work is due to start week commencing 28 September 2026 and is expected to be completed in spring 2027.
Loughborough Leisure Centre will remain open throughout the work and users will continue to have access to all facilities.
Around nine parking spaces will be unavailable in the car park while work is undertaken. The disabled parking spaces will be moved in the car park to accommodate the work, however the number of these spaces will not be reduced.
The work on the heating system is being carried out by award-winning renewable technology company, Leisure Energy Limited.
Mike Worsnop, Acting Managing Director at Leisure Energy, said: “Leisure Energy are proud to be supporting Charnwood Borough Council as principal designer and contractor for the energy works at Loughborough Leisure Centre.
“Following our involvement in helping to secure the funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the project has now reached an exciting milestone with the commencement of on-site works. The installation of our Net Zero Pod® marks a significant step forward in delivering sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions for the facility.”
As well as the Government funding, the Council is investing £400,000 into the project, bringing the total project funding to over £3 million.
The addition of 216 solar panels last year has led to a reduction of 36.2 tonnes of CO2 per year – the equivalent of the annual emissions of 20 average homes.
The solar panels are capable of delivering up to 91.8kW of energy and the utility cost savings are expected to cover the investment within four years.
In total, 99% of the generated power will be fed straight to the leisure centre with one per cent fed back into the grid.
Two pool covers were also installed on the 25-metre swimming pool and smaller training pool which helps retain heat and reduce the amount of energy used.
The Council declared a climate emergency in November 2023 and committed to working with partners and communities to reduce carbon emissions and help limit global warming.
The Council’s leisure centres are operated by More Leisure.
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