More than £3.3 million is being invested by Wychavon to slash carbon emissions at two of the district’s leisure centres.
Wychavon has been awarded more than £2.9 million from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to help deliver low carbon heat and power systems at Evesham and Pershore Leisure Centres. The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix. Councillors have agreed to support the project with £400,000 of Wychavon’s own money.
The project will see the current gas heating systems at both centres, as well as the combined heat and power unit at Evesham Leisure Centre, replaced with air source heat pumps. The existing pool hall air handling units will be replaced with an in-built air source heat pump, destratification fans will also be installed and solar panels will be put on the roofs of both centres.
The measures will cut Pershore Leisure Centre’s emissions by between 80% and 90% and Evesham Leisure Centre’s by between 60% and 70%. In total about 700 tonnes of carbon emissions a year will be saved, helping Wychavon to meet its Intelligently Green Plan target to reduce the council’s carbon emissions by at least 75% by 2030.
Upgrades to the energy efficiency of Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre are being made as part of a separate £7 million upgrade previously approved by councillors. They include the installation of solar panels and more energy efficient equipment to heat and clean the swimming pool.
Cllr Beverley Hardman, Executive Board Member for Boosting Natural Capital on Wychavon District Council, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to secure this money from the Government to help reduce the carbon footprint of our leisure centres by making them more energy efficient.
“This will make a significant contribution to helping us meet our carbon reduction target while helping to increase the long-term sustainability of our leisure centres.”
Ian Rodger, Director of Programmes at Salix, said: “We’re pleased to be able to work with Wychavon on its net zero journey and to transform these local leisure centres.
“The project will not only make these centres more energy efficient but will make them more comfortable places to enjoy as well as work in.”
Pictured: Cllr Beverley Hardman, Executive Board Member for Boosting Natural Capital and Cllr Dan Birch, Executive Board Member for Wellbeing, Social Mobility and Transformation.
