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Clean green energy coming to Wantage Leisure Centre

Work begins next week at Wantage Leisure Centre on a multi-million-pound energy efficiency programme with solar panels and extensive insulation of the roof to lower the site’s carbon emissions.

From Monday 10 March contractors will start work at the site and are expecting to complete it before the end of 2025. They will be installing triple glazing, as well as replacing and insulating the roof and adding three large air source heat pump units, and 115 solar panels to heat the building in place of end-of-life gas boilers.

Users of the centre should notice little change inside the leisure centre itself. Notice will be given for any planned disruption. A small area of the car park has been allocated to the project

The centre’s new energy efficient measures have been made possible by the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.

The scheme has given Vale of White Horse District Council nearly £6m towards upgrading the heating at Wantage Leisure Centre and the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon where similar work began last month.

In addition to the government funding, money for the work has also come from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – which is money from new developments in the area which goes towards local infrastructure, including projects such as this. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has also contributed towards this decarbonisation work.

When work at both buildings is completed, the council has calculated that its overall carbon emissions should be reduced by more than 25 per cent, which will help it reach its target to become carbon neutral in its own operations by 2030.

It is anticipated that when the measures are in place at Wantage, the council could save around 800,000 kWh per year.

Cllr Andrew Crawford, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We are delighted to see this work take place at Wantage. Using renewable energy is not only better for the planet, but it is better for the budget. It will make the site cheaper to run and more economically viable in the long term. As soon as the decarbonisation work is completed then we can concentrate on the next phase for Wantage – a full refurbishment of the changing facilities and gym.”

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Moving to a modern, renewable, sustainable heating system reduces our reliance on fossil fuels which have the dual problem of contributing to climate change and exposing those who rely on them to sudden rises in energy bills. The work on the two leisure centres at Abingdon and Wantage alone will hugely help us towards our target for the Vale to be a carbon neutral council by 2030.”

The council is one of 183 organisations across the country awarded grants for 231 decarbonisation projects under the government scheme, which aims to reduce public sector buildings’ reliance on gas and oil.

Director of Public Sector Decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger, said: “Climate change is already happening, and we have no time to waste in reducing our carbon footprint, ensuring that all of us are working towards a cleaner future for our planet.

“The work being undertaken by Vale of White Horse District Council at Wantage, and Abingdon will help them reach their 2030 target to be carbon neutral.  This will not only mean the council is creating more energy efficient buildings, but ones that are better for the planet.

“Our teams are looking forward to supporting the council on its net zero journey.”

Updated information will be available on the work going at the leisure centres will be on the council’s webpage.

Notes to editors

The work at the Wantage Leisure Centre is being carried out by Ashe Construction Ltd and consultants, Pellings LLP.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provides grants for public sector bodies to fund energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures.  You can find out more about it on the government website.

The finance is delivered by Salix Finance on behalf of the government run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, aims to tackle emissions from heating public sector buildings, aid a green recovery and support the UK’s 2050 net zero target and clean growth goals.

About Salix: Salix’s role is to support the UK government in driving the transition to a low carbon future and meet challenging net zero targets. We deliver and administer grant and loan funding on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Education and the Scottish and Welsh governments. This is delivered across the public sector as well as housing.

The schemes we deliver provide funding for energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects for public sector buildings as well as the housing sector. Our schemes are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the government’s ambitious net zero targets. These programmes include the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, the Low Carbon Skills Fund and Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund.