East Lancs leisure centre overhaul completes £750k energy upgrade

A £750,000 plus energy-efficiency upgrade a major East Lancashire fitness and recreation hub has been completed.

The project at Hyndburn Leisure Centre in Henry Street, Church, included includes the installation of additional metering and monitoring software, fitting variable speed fans, upgrading the showers and replacing existing lighting.

It was paid for by a grant of £241,447 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) and £525,085 from Hyndburn Coucil’s capital budget

The improvements mean that Hyndburn Leisure Centre can now actively track and manage real-time energy usage across the site allowing for greater control, improved performance, and a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.

The energy efficiency measures will enable its operator Hyndburn Leisure to better manage energy consumption, which alongside regularly reviewing energy supply contracts, will support its long-term sustainability and affordability.

The leisure centre had previously been identified as Hyndburn Council’s highest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) due to a defunct fossil-fuelled plant.

Since then, the authority has significantly reduced the CO2 emissions by 70 per cent using, a £1,988,324 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant to deliver a new electric powered sub-station, air source heat pumps, solar panels, a battery store and new heating controls.

Cllr Scott Brerton, Hyndburn Council’s sustainability boss, said: “This work is another clear step towards delivering on our net zero carbon commitments.

“We are already seeing the benefits, not only in terms of reducing energy consumption, but also in ensuring that we use resources as efficiently as possible.

“In a time of high energy costs, this investment is not just good for the environment but it’s financially responsible too.”

Cllr Melissa Fisher, deputy leader of Hyndburn Council said: “I’d like to thank Sport England for their support and Hyndburn Leisure for their commitment to managing the centre in a more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible way.”

Sport England’s executive director for place Lisa Dodd-Mayne said: “Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active.

“Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival recently.

“Sport England is proud of the role we’ve played in supporting Hyndburn Leisure Centre and many other pools during this difficult period.

“We hope the funding will enable more public pools to improve their energy efficiency to be more environmentally and financially sustainable so they remain available for future generations to enjoy.”

Hyndburn Council’s Conservative group leader Cllr Zak Khan said: “It’s welcome to see Hyndburn Leisure continue to invest in making their site fit for the future, sported by external finance from Sports England.

‘’It’s smart to plan and spend towards self-sufficiency across our buildings to make sure we are protected against the volatility of energy prices.

“I want to see those savings redirected into more tangible services and facilities for residents.”