£2.3 million grant funding to help cut carbon emissions

A successful bid for national funding will enable Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, Teignmouth Lido and Broadmeadow Sports Centre to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions by installing new, green technology.

The changes – which must be made in the next six months – will have a significant, positive impact on the Council’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint following its declaration of a climate emergency.

Meeting the required grant timetable however means that the Teignmouth Lido will not open this summer and that both Centres may face some disruption later in the year.

Executive Member for Climate Change Cllr Jackie Hook welcomed the funding news. “This is an excellent example of the benefits of bidding for national funding to modernise our energy systems so as to significantly reduce the negative impact that our old centre heating systems currently have on the environment and reduce ongoing energy bills.

“The investment will reduce our carbon footprint by 280 tonnes in year one – the equivalent of emissions from 100 homes – and natural gas consumption by 1.6 million kWh per annum, representing 60% of our existing consumption”.

Over the next six months the £2.3 million grant will be spent installing Solar PV, battery storage and building management system upgrades at all three buildings as part of our emerging Carbon Action Plan. Gas boilers at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre and the Lido will be replaced with low-carbon air source heat pumps and pool circulation pumps will be replaced with high-efficiency modern equivalents. Lighting systems at Broadmeadow will be upgraded with modern LED equivalents throughout.

The grant funding comes from the national Public Sector Decarbonisaton Scheme and must be spent by September.

Executive Member for Sport, Recreation & Culture, Cllr Andrew MacGregor, also welcomed the new investment. “These changes will help secure the future of these leisure buildings and we will do everything we can to minimise any disruption to customers.

“It is regrettable that meeting the required timetable means that the work has to be carried out over the summer and so will prevent us opening the Teignmouth Lido this year but this investment will make an enormous difference to the future of this much loved community facility. We hope that users will understand and fully support the upgrading of the facility.”