£4m to curb energy costs at The Meres centre

South Kesteven District Council has secured a further £3,587,500 for energy efficiency upgrades at The Meres Leisure Centre in Grantham.

The grant, from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 3c, will pay for a new low-carbon heating system, with an additional £492,500 coming from the council’s own budget.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Paul Stokes, said: “The utility costs for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre are substantial and have increased significantly since 2021.

“This funding will allow for the design and installation of a new low-carbon heating system to replace the existing gas boilers, which are old and inefficient.

“The scheme will be supported by the installation of additional solar panels, which are being funded by a separate allocation of funding from the Swimming Pool Support Fund (Phase Two), which we announced in March.

“The two-year design and installation project represents significant investment into Grantham Meres Leisure Centre, helping to secure its ongoing sustainability.”

Once in place the upgraded heating system will reduce carbon emissions from the site by over 550 tonnes of carbon per year which equates to 8% of the Council’s total carbon emissions and a quarter of the Council’s carbon reduction target of at least 30% by 2030.

South Kesteven District Council, through its leisure company, LeisureSK, is responsible for the three leisure centres in Grantham, Stamford and Bourne.