East Suffolk Council
£4.8million for leisure centre decarbonisation drive
Ambitious plans to upgrade and decarbonise three of the district’s leisure centres are moving forward after East Suffolk Council successfully secured a £2.8million Government grant.
Along with an additional £2m investment of its own, the grant of £2.8m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, run by Salix on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will help the Council take a major step towards its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Leisure centres currently represent the single largest contributor to the Council’s greenhouse gas emissions – now accounting for around 42% of the total – and tackling emissions from the buildings is crucial to reaching overall carbon reduction targets.
Planned upgrades to Leiston, Waterlane, and Deben leisure centres will focus on replacing outdated gas boilers with cutting-edge air source heat pump systems for heating, and CO2 heat pumps for hot water in some locations, significantly cutting energy use and emissions at all three sites.
Additionally, Deben Leisure Centre will benefit from a new roof, and all three centres will gain further solar panel installations to help offset increased electricity use from the switch to electric-only systems. Funding will also help future-proof the centres by supporting the replacement of ageing equipment due for renewal – reducing the carbon footprint while avoiding major upfront costs.
Councillor Sarah Whitelock, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:
“This funding is a game-changer. It allows us to make real progress towards our environmental goals while continuing to invest in high-quality leisure facilities for our communities. We’re proud to be taking action that benefits both residents and the planet.”
All schemes will be implemented within two years – marking a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable future for East Suffolk, benefitting both the environment and local community.
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger said:
“It’s crucial we get to grips with carbon emissions if we are to reach our ambitious net zero targets set by UK Government.
“We are delighted to work with East Suffolk Council through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. It’s clear that its leisure centres are the biggest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and this project will make a difference to not only the energy efficiency of the buildings but to the planet too.
“There is no time like the present to tackle our climate crisis.”
The transformation of Leiston, Waterlane and Deben Leisure Centres is part of the Council’s wider commitment to sustainability, with previous work including improved insulation, LED lighting, solar panels and pool covers to reduce heat loss.