Rushcliffe Borough Council begins decarbonisation of Cotgrave Leisure Centre with £1.2m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

Works worth £1.2million to refurbish and decarbonise a leisure centre with a pioneering heat pump have begun.

The investment, from Rushcliffe Borough Council, is set to transform how its swimming pool and leisure features are heated with the delivery of a new low carbon air source heat pump unit, The Net Zero Pod.

Once fully connected and turned on later this month, the innovative and pioneering heat pump and green technology in the new plant room will use electricity from renewable sources to efficiently draw heat from the air and transfer it into the swimming pool and surrounding areas.

The Pod was designed and built off-site at contractor Leisure Energy’s Technology Centre and will result in 250% to 300% energy efficiency.

The decarbonisation of Cotgrave leisure centre is part funded with £1.2m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and is part of RBC’s £5.2m investment in Cotgrave and Keyworth leisure centres.

RBC received a further £250,000 funding from the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport through their Swimming Pool Support Fund, administered by Sport England, enabling solar panels to be installed at the leisure centre which will generate up to 55,000 kwh of electricity a year, saving up to £25,000 on running costs, the equivalent to running power for 20 houses.

The Leisure Centre is also benefiting from £110,000 funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for refurbishments, which include a new changing places toilet, widening corridors, a dedicated spin studio, larger modern dance studio, and an updated and improved layout to the poolside changing rooms.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development Jonathan Wheeler said: “It’s very exciting to see works progressing on site and reaching a significant milestone with the arrival of the Net Zero Pod delivering pioneering green technology.

“This project 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.

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