Potential leisure centre decarbonisation cost revealed

Plans to reduce carbon emissions at Barrow Leisure Centre could cost around £1 million – council documents have revealed.

A presentation prepared for members of the communities and environment scrutiny committee has valued work to lower the amount of carbon emissions at the leisure centre on Greengate Street at around £1 million.

According to documents, the proposed works would consist of upgrading the pool air handling units and the mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system.

The council also wants to install solar Photovoltaics to convert thermal energy into electricity and a hybrid air source heat pump system to work alongside the combined heat and power unit.

The scheme to lower carbon emissions is labelled a ‘priority’ for the 2024/25 financial year as the leisure centre is one of the ‘highest energy use’ buildings the council owns.

According to the presentation the proposed works would lower emissions from 424.42 tonnes of CO2 a year to 192.29 tonnes a year.

Applications for funding to carry out decarbonisation plans were successful for Appleby and Penrith with grants of £228,000 and £165,000 approved respectively. However, the application for Barrow Leisure Centre was unsuccessful.

Members of the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council approved a new carbon management strategy for 2024-2039 as well as part two of the authority’s climate change action plan on Tuesday January 23.

Cabinet member for climate and biodiversity councillor Giles Archibald previously said in January: “Today’s agreement on both Part Two of our Climate Action Plan and our Carbon Management Strategy is another milestone for our council and for Westmorland and Furness.

“As a council, we are making climate change a high priority and they signify our dedication to combatting climate change and providing leadership in the drive to become carbon net zero.”

The council aims to reach net zero in terms of scope one and scope two emissions by 2037. This consists of direct emissions from buildings, plant and vehicles owned or controlled by the authority as well as indirect emissions associated with purchased energy consumed by the council.

With other emissions outside of the local authority’s control, the council say it will work with partners, businesses and others towards the ambition of net zero for the area.

According to council documents it is estimated that to reach a net zero position for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2037 it will cost £26m, which equates to just over £2m annually.

When all the carbon reduction measures are complete, the council state estimated cost savings will be approximately £8.2m a year but this figure depends on energy prices.

Cabinet member for highways and assets, councillor Peter Thornton, previously said: “We can deliver the strategy using the savings the strategy will produce.

“We’re in a happy situation of being able to save carbon and money at the same time.”