Coventry City Council, in partnership with CV Life, has successfully completed a series of major sustainability improvements at three of the city’s leisure centres.
The leisure centres were awarded almost £750,000 in grant funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and National Lottery through Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund earlier this year to carry out the work.
The Alan Higgs Centre, Centre AT7 and Xcel Leisure Centre have all benefited from a range of energy efficiency upgrades designed to reduce carbon emissions, lower running costs and support Coventry’s wider climate goals.
The Alan Higgs Centre has newly installed solar panels funded by a £250,000 grant, whilst Centre AT7 has seen the installation of solar panels alongside a full replacement of fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED alternatives, supported by a £270,000 grant. LED lighting has also been installed at Xcel Leisure Centre and its building management system has been upgraded, thanks to the centre being awarded a grant of £220,000.
Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “It’s fantastic to see that this important work has been carried out at three of the city’s most popular leisure centres.
“Making our leisure centres more energy efficient is really important as it helps to keep costs down, meaning the centres remain affordable and accessible.
“High-quality and well-maintained facilities play a key role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. Thanks to this funding, people will enjoy safe and modern spaces to exercise for years to come.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “These energy-efficiency upgrades are fantastic and will benefit everyone who uses these facilities.
“Going green is important as we move towards net zero, and thanks to the grant funding our most well used leisure centres now have solar and LED lighting. This is a win, win as it will save money and reduce the carbon footprint of both centres.”
The improvements are projected to reduce energy bills by approximately £140,000 per year across the three sites.
Steve Wiles, Chief Operating Officer at CV Life, said: “Amid increasing operational costs and the instability of energy prices, the recent funding from Sport England has been a welcomed investment in the future of our centres.
“This support has enabled us to implement energy efficient technologies that will significantly reduce our electricity consumption. Cost savings aside; the investment plays a vital role in supporting our long-term commitment to environmental sustainability.
“By lowering our carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency, we are taking firm steps toward achieving our environmental sustainability goals and ensuring our facilities remain both financially and environmentally resilient for years to come.”
The funding was allocated to centres in communities with the highest need. The allocation of funding aligns with Sport England’s national funding scheme aimed at supporting public leisure centres with swimming pools across the country.
For more information about the Swimming Pool Support Fund, please visit the SPSF webpage