Decarbonisation and refurbishment work at Cotgrave Leisure Centre progressing as part of Rushcliffe Borough Council’s £5.2million scheme

New facilities have opened to the public as part of a £5.2million leisure centre investment.

Rushcliffe Borough Council has invested in refurbishments and energy efficient improvements at two of it’s leisure centres, with Cotgrave Leisure Centre the latest to benefit.

Work started at the site in September 2024 and has been delivered in phases to enable the centre to remain open whilst works take place.

It has already benefited from the addition of a changing places toilet, wider corridors and the provision of two enhanced studios for group exercise and spin classes which opened in December.

Phase two has now completed with fully refurbished poolside changing rooms open to the public.

Portfolio holder for leisure and wellbeing, ICT and member development, Jonathan Wheeler, said: “The improvements are on track and getting very positive feedback from leisure centre users.

“Works have moved to the reception area which will be reconfigured to provide enhanced layout, new toilets and an improved reception desk. In this phase the sports hall is also receiving a full makeover with brand new professional sports hall flooring and fresh paint.

“Alongside the refurbishment, the centre has received a new low carbon air source heat pump unit, The Net Zero Pod, which will deliver an innovative and pioneering application of heat pump and green technology, along with solar panels on the roof.”

Once fully connected, the new plant room will use electricity from renewable sources to heat the swimming pool and surrounding areas, while the solar panels are predicted to generate up to 55,000 kwh of electricity a year and save up to £25,000 on running costs.

The decarbonisation of Cotgrave leisure centre is part funded by a £1.2million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s public sector decarbonisation scheme, while the solar panels were funded by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s swimming pool support fund, administered by Sport England.

Further grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have also been invested into the scheme.

Mr Wheeler added: “In total we’re investing £5.2m in these refurbishments and energy efficient upgrades at Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres, which will enhance the quality and sustainability of the facilities for the community for future generations.

“The completed parts of the centre are looking superb and the technology installed is a great carbon clever example of how we are helping to reduce CO2 emissions and will go a long way towards achieving our environmental goals to operate as a carbon neutral council by 2030.

“Once works are complete at Cotgrave this Spring our contractors will move to Keyworth to carry out an equally ambitious full refurbishment of that centre over the summer.”