In a further boost to the borough’s climate efforts Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) has secured a £156,704 grant to install solar panels on the roof of Parklands Leisure Centre, Oadby.

The panels are projected to cover 20% of the centre’s annual energy consumption reducing CO2 emissions by 12.65t per year, the equivalent of planting 581 trees, in a major step towards OWBC’s commitment to achieving net zero and reducing emissions in the borough.

The grant funding is from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, and follows a grant of £184,050 awarded from the same fund last year to install panels at Wigston Pool and Fitness Centre.

OWBC applied for both grants in 2023 with initially only the Wigston bid being successful, but Sport England later also approved the bid for Parklands Leisure Centre.

The solar panel installation, beginning this week and set to be completed later this summer by contractors Leisure Energy, is also expected to deliver major energy cost savings.

Parklands Leisure Centre and Wigston Pool and Fitness Centre are both owned by OWBC, and managed by Everyone Active.

The Swimming Pool Support Fund was created by the Government due to the increase in energy costs over recent years at leisure facilities and with the intention of both helping keep pools open in the face of financial challenges, as well as funding longer-term projects to help reduce future energy bills.

Cllr Bill Boulter, Chair of Service Delivery Committee at OWBC, said: “We’re thrilled that Sport England came back to us to also approve this bid allowing both of our borough’s leisure centres to benefit from renewable energy – a significant step on our journey to net zero.

“To make a real difference we all must play our part. I am proud that we are leading by example, and I really encourage residents to think about the small changes they can make in their lives to make our future greener.

“As well as the environmental benefits these panels also slash running costs and add a layer of resilience to changes in the energy market – offering a valuable layer of protection to such an important service.”

Peggy Lee, Group Sustainability Manager for Everyone Active, said: “It is great news to have more onsite renewable energy generation, which will further reduce the centre’s carbon footprint going forward. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside the Council in meeting their net zero ambitions, which is the most important part of our own net zero strategy.”

Mike Worsnop, Strategic Director for Leisure Energy, said: “The completion of the solar panels at Wigston Pool have provided an effective solution to lower the carbon footprint and energy costs at the facility. We are also excited to continue working with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council as Principal Contractor for the solar panel installation at Parklands Leisure Centre. Our partnership with the Council and Everyone Active will contribute towards the Council’s net zero targets whilst providing the community with sustainable sports and fitness facilities for ongoing generations.”

Pictured: an artist’s impression of what the completed installation on the roof of the leisure centre will look like.

South Kesteven District Council is moving towards more sustainable leisure facilities in the UK with the launch of a Net Zero Pod at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre.

Delivered in partnership with leisure development specialists Alliance Leisure and renewable energy specialist Leisure Energy, the £4 million project utilises air source heat pump technology to dramatically reduce operational costs, boost efficiency and cut carbon emissions.

Replacing the leisure centre’s gas boilers, the Net Zero Pod is a sector leading example of a pioneering application of Air Source Heat Pump Technology within a stand-alone external acoustic packaged plant room. The air-to-water NZP has been uniquely designed for use within a leisure and swimming pool environment and is installed as a complete unit ready to be connected to the existing system. Alongside the pod there is an evaporator fan deck housing fan units. The pod will be built off-site to the required specifications at Leisure Energy’s Technology Centre in Kidderminster and transported to the leisure centre.

Unique benefits of the net zero pod include ease of installation and commissioning at the leisure centre, the use of a natural refrigerant, CO2, with a low global warming potential of 1and the ability to deliver a Seasonal Co-efficient of Performance (sCOP) of above 4 or 400%. This means that in terms of efficiency for every one unit of energy the heat pumps use, it can produce at least 4 units of heat. As a comparison gas boilers run at only 70 to 94% efficiency levels, whilst also producing greater carbon emissions.

Sensors and energy valves are installed in the leisure centre and within the NZP; these communicate with the NZP controls platform which allows for accurate system monitoring and management. The benefits include a rapid response to changes in site demand and weather conditions. Furthermore, the increased visibility of the health and performance of the system means that preventative maintenance can be performed if required.

The innovative solution is expected to reduce the centre’s carbon emissions by more than 550 tonnes a year, helping the council to meet its target of cutting emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.

South Kesteven District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Cllr Rhys Baker, says: “Heating and electricity costs for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre are substantial. And just like household bills, they have gone up significantly since 2021.

“This low-carbon heating system has been a major project for us. We wanted to design and install a modern, efficient, and cost-effective system to replace gas boilers that were well past their best. They needed regular repair and were getting more and more expensive to run.
“Installing this heating system will dramatically lower the centre’s energy bills, reduce its carbon footprint and help meet the council’s target of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030.

“It is another significant investment in the district’s leisure facilities in general, and in Grantham Meres leisure centre in particular. By acting early and looking to the future, we are helping secure Grantham Mere’s sustainability, and committing to high-quality, affordable leisure facilities for residents.”

The project is part-funded through the government’s Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) Phase 3c, with investment from South Kesteven District Council.

Alliance Delivery Manager, Seb Rowe, said: “This project is a shining example of how public-private partnerships can drive innovation to address climate change and improve community infrastructure. South Kesteven District Council is demonstrating that leisure facilities can not only serve public health and wellbeing but also fight climate change.”

Mike Worsnop, Strategic Director at Leisure Energy commented “Leisure Energy are extremely proud to working with South Kesteven District Council on the installation of energy saving technology at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. Our Net Zero Pod will assist the facility to lower utility bills and it’s carbon footprint, whilst providing a centre for generations to use”

Work start on site at the end of June 2025 , with the project due to complete in the spring of 2026.

The scheme follows the installation of 574 solar panels at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre after South Kesteven District Council secured a £399,000 grant from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund. The Fund was created to help local authorities address the rising costs of operating public swimming facilities. Leisure Energy acted as Principal Contractor and Designer for the installation of the panels.

The Car Port scheme at K2 Crawley Leisure Centre is now switched on and generating electricity.

We are proud to have been working on the project as Principal Contractor and Designer with Crawley Borough Council and Everyone Active – SLM

https://crawley.gov.uk/council-information/news-and-events/latest-news/2025/k2-crawley-solar-carport-installation-complete