Plans to boost energy efficiency at Carterton Leisure Centre get underway

West Oxfordshire District Council is starting work to upgrade and decarbonise Carterton Leisure Centre through replacing end-of-life gas boilers and obsolete equipment with alternative low-carbon heating.

Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Change, said: “By their very nature, leisure centres are energy intensive buildings and we have been conscious of the need to put in place measures to lessen their impact on the environment and also make them more cost effective for residents.

“We will be starting the work by undertaking an engineering study to help us pull together the plans for installing the new technology. Residents will start to see surveyors on site over the coming weeks and months. 

“By installing the new tech in the centre we will ensure that not only can we reduce our carbon emissions but we will have a facility that will provide a high quality service to our residents for many years to come.”

As one of the Council’s largest leisure sites, Carterton Leisure Centre was responsible for 33% of the council’s natural gas emissions in 2022. This project will significantly reduce current CO2 emissions and help the Council reach its carbon neutrality target by 2030.

An initial feasibility study was undertaken in 2022 and funding secured in March 2023 with Kier Construction appointed to develop the scheme design. A new heat recovery system to the pool, installation of additional roof mounted solar and solar car park canopies will be considered. The solar PV will generate electricity that will significantly reduce current energy demand from the grid.

The funding for the project has been awarded through Public Sector Decarbonisation funding.