An installation of 675 roof mounted photovoltaic solar panels has commenced at Middlesbrough’s Rainbow Leisure Centre. The panels are funded via a grant of £459,400 from the second phase of Sport England’s £60 million Swimming Pool Support Fund.

Leisure Energy was appointed by the Council as Principal Designer and Principal Contractor on the project.

The installation is expected to complete later in the Spring 2025 and will reduce the carbon emissions at the centre by approximately 30 tonnes per annum producing 150,210 kWh of electricity per annum.

The Swimming Pool Support Fund was created by the Government due to the significant increases in energy costs over recent years at leisure facilities 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. Sport England is the administrator of the fund and has also made £20m of lottery funding available to support the £40m provided by the Government.

The funding received by Middlesbrough Council will assist in the Council’s objective to reach net zero emissions by 2029 as a council, and by 2039 as a town.

Councillor Jan Ryles, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Adult Social Care & Public Health, said: “We’re committed to helping more people become more active, and our leisure centres play a key role in that ambition.

“As part of that approach we also have a responsibility to reduce our environmental impact as we strive towards a net zero future.

“These solar panels will play an important part in that journey, and I applaud this innovative and forward-looking initiative.”

Matt Jones, Project Manager for Leisure Energy, said “We are proud to be Middlesbrough Council’s principal contractor for the installation of solar panels at the Rainbow Leisure Centre and to be assisting them in their commitment towards a net zero Council, with the result that the facility becomes more economically and environmentally sustainable for future generations to use.”

 Paul Ayre, Everyone Active’s area contract manager, said: “It is great news that these investments will reduce the centre’s carbon footprint.

“Everyone Active is proud to work alongside Middlesbrough Council, as part of our Net Zero Strategy, to help achieve our company’s Net Zero ambitions.”

The Executive Director of Place at Sport England commented at the time of the funding announcement:

 “Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active,” said Lisa Dodd-Mayne.

“Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival this year, as local authorities and operators have battled the challenge of increased energy and wider costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff.

“Sport England is proud of the role we’ve played in supporting these facilities through this difficult period.

“We hope today’s funding announcement 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.”

We are thrilled to announce that 655 solar panels have now been successfully installed at Woodside Leisure Centre.

🌞 This milestone marks a significant step forward in Watford Borough Council’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

🤝This project was made possible thanks to a £400,000 grant from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, and Leisure Energy played a key role in securing the funding and overseeing the installation process.

These solar panels will bring enormous benefits to the leisure centre:
♻️ Save approximately 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually
💡 Reduce energy consumption at the leisure centre by 259.22 megawatt-hours
🌍 Provide clean energy and reduce energy bills

Improving efficiency and cutting carbon emissions at Windsor Leisure Centre is central to the renovation plans that are now underway. The upgrades, include state-of-the art new heating and ventilation systems, led by as Principal Contractor on behalf of the council. The project will include removal of the gas boilers and the Combined Heat and Power unit that are at the end of their life, and the installation of a Net Zero Pod which contains air source heat pumps, roof mounted solar panels, replacement air handling, and a heat recovery system. This equipment will provide a more sustainable and economical building, and will significantly reduce the carbon emissions from the Centre.

The £6.3m project, the majority of which is funded by a successful bid for £5.4 million through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (administered by Salix), is one of the largest grants awarded for a single site in the country, and is projected to also save the council over £100,000 a year in utility costs.

The remaining £889,480 of funding for the project has come from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s Carbon Offset Fund, containing ring-fenced funding for projects that reduce carbon emissions, that is made up of developers’ contributions.

Councillor Karen Davies, Cabinet member for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Windsor Town Council, said: “This exciting project allows us to renovate one of our most popular leisure centres, bring down energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint, all at no cost to our residents.

“We’re committed to creating a cleaner, greener borough and this is a great example of our continuing work with partners to provide a better experience whilst protecting our environment and reducing carbon emissions.”

Mike Worsnop, Strategic Director at said: “We are proud to have supported the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with the successful PSDS 3c funding application of £6.3m for Windsor Leisure Centre, and to have been appointed Principal Designer and Contractor on the installation. We look forward to working with the Council to finalise the design and take the project forward to construction phase.”

Work is due to complete in 2026 and follows the recent announcement of a new 15-year contract, awarded by the council to Leisure Focus Trust, which will see improved spaces and activities delivered to residents at six Leisure Centres across the borough.