Sun Lane Leisure Centre to undergo decarbonisation

Wakefield Council is investing “millions” in carbon-cutting technology at its Sun Lane Leisure Centre, supporting the council’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions across its estate and work towards net-zero targets.

The project will see the centre’s fossil fuel-based heating systems, including gas boilers and the combined heat and power (CHP) unit, replaced by three rooftop air source heat pumps (ASHPs). These will be installed alongside a suite of energy-efficiency upgrades including the installation of solar panels, upgrades to the building management system (BMS), replacement LED lighting throughout, new heat emitters, the integration of an 8,000-litre thermal store to optimise heating performance plus general upgrades to the electrical infrastructure.

Funding for the project is being made available through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and the council’s own reserves. A total pot of almost £5 million is being invested which also includes the support of works at Upton Primary School in Pontefract, being delivered separately.

Work is scheduled to begin this autumn with an estimated delivery period of six months. The leisure centre will mostly remain operational throughout, with a short closure when the new heating systems are switched over. The multimillion pound project is being delivered by Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework.

George Ayre, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “This latest investment is part of our wider decarbonisation journey at Wakefield Council.”