Worcester City councillors have backed a scheme for solar panels to be fitted onto the roof of Perdiswell Leisure Centre, to generate electricity for uses in the building.
The panels, to be installed at the leisure centre by March 2025, will result in carbon emissions being reduced by 84 tonnes a year and the facility’s running costs being significantly reduced.
The City Council’s Policy & Resource Committee, meeting on Tuesday evening (3 September), gave the project the go-ahead, subject to planning permission being granted.
To enable the work to be completed the City Council has been awarded £195,000 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF).
Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Lynn Denham said: “The project at Perdiswell Leisure Centre is fundamental to securing the long-term future of its swimming pool.
“Many local councils have lost their swimming pools because of the high cost of energy and the difficulty in maintaining them.
“I want to express my gratitude to Sport England for the funding grant and to our Council staff who have gone out and successfully applied for this money.
“The solar panels are going to have a positive impact financially and will reduce the building’s carbon footprint.”
The solar panels at Perdiswell will be installed on two roofs, above the Sports Hall and the Swimming Pool block.
Work will also include replacing the ageing Sports Hall block roof.
The committee will consider plans for additional solar panels at St Martin’s Gate car park at the Policy & Resources Committee meeting in November.
The delay will allow for further information to be gathered, after a report to the Committee noted that the forecast costs were higher than initially expected.
Worcester City Council has been implementing its Environmental Sustainability Strategy since 2019; this latest project at Perdiswell is part of the strategy's overarching aim to decarbonise the city.
