£1.2m grant secured to revamp Clacton centre

Tendring District Council (TDC) has secured a £1.2million grant to improve the energy-efficiency and sustainability of Clacton Leisure Centre.

The grant, from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), will see the centre’s ageing oil-fired boilers being replaced by a modern, energy-efficient system.

PSDS is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix to support the public sector to reduce carbon emissions in line with the UK’s 2050 net zero target.

The new boiler system will include a large heat pump designed to provide efficient heating to the air handling units and hot water systems, while new solar photovoltaic (PV) panels will be installed to further reduce the facility’s carbon footprint and energy consumption.

Councillor Adrian Smith, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said the switch from the dated oil boilers to a modern electric system, alongside the installation of solar panels, will lead to massive cut in energy use.

“Not only will there be a huge reduction in energy consumption at the centre, but it is expected to save local taxpayers’ money.” he said.

“Championing the environment runs through everything we do as a council and this project marks a major step forward in our journey towards Net Zero.

“I would like to thank Salix and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for this commitment, which will contribute towards the UK-wide efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainability.”