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£2.5m investment in Tenterden Leisure Centre power plant will cut carbon emissions and lower running costs

Ashford Borough Council has secured a £2m Government grant to replace the ageing power plant at Tenterden Leisure Centre with a state-of-the-art system which will slash running costs, cut carbon emissions and provide a boost to bold ambitions to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030.

The Council is also investing more than £465k in the ambitious project, taking the total to nearly £2.5m. Installation work is due to begin this week.

Ashford submitted a bid to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) via Salix Finance, which provides grants for public sector bodies to fund energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures. The £1bn scheme is part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs 2020 to support the UK’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

The Council has secured a grant of £2m from the PSDS towards the cost of the scheme, which will see the replacement of the existing gas fired heating plant with high-tech air to water heat pumps, along with other improvements including the installation of PV solar panels to provide the electricity to power the new system.

Benefits of the scheme include:

Reduction of Tenterden Leisure Centre’s annual carbon emission total by 320 tonnes (the equivalent of taking 168 fossil fuel cars off the road).
A significant contribution to the Council’s goal of making the borough 100% carbon neutral by 2030
Frees up vital Council funds to be spent on other priority projects

This new work follows the updating of the centre’s plant during 2022, which saw a new pool air handling unit, combined with an air source heat pump, new pool filtration vessels and new control panels.

As air source heating is electrically powered, the generation of electricity on site supports this method of heating, which is why a solar PV installation is also included in the scheme. Further efficiencies will be achieved by the installation of more energy efficient pumps and motors, and upgrades to the building management system software and controls.

The Council is delivering the improvements in partnership with specialist leisure consultants Alliance Leisure, who are managing the project, with Leisure Energy contracted for the installations.

“We applied for the grant as part of our bold commitment to be 100% carbon neutral by 2030, with an 80% reduction target by 2025. I am delighted that work is underway and I look forward to the scheme delivering real benefits for the Council and local people.”

Cllr Matthew Forest

Portfolio Holder for Environment, Property and Recreation

“We are delighted to be working with Ashford Borough Council and Leisure Energy on this important Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funded by Salix. Over 300 tonnes of carbon emissions will be saved, greatly benefiting the local community and the environment.”

Chris Ames

Delivery Manager for Alliance Leisure

Ask us a question about your next development

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Announced*

*But hurry, applications close January 10, 2021

(England Only)

Last month, the government introduced a new £1 billion grant funding scheme to encourage economic growth, cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change. Here, our CEO, Sarah Watts, looks at the huge opportunities this creates for leisure operators.

Why is the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme relevant for public sector leisure providers?

In the UK, it is estimated there are more than 2,720 ageing leisure centres, with many dating back to the 1970s. These buildings are inefficient money pits. This funding is designed to help English councils invest in energy saving measures to improve efficiencies and also to encourage councils to meet their legally required carbon neutral targets. Investing in works also creates employment, helping to re-energise the economy at a time when it is really needed.

What is the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme?

Through The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Government has launched its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), providing grant funding for energy efficiency measures across the public sector in England.

PSDS will offer £1 billon of grant funding which aligns with BEIS’ new mission and priorities: fighting coronavirus, backing business, unleashing innovation and tackling climate change. The scheme will also encourage green investment, supporting the Government’s net zero and clean growth goals. It will reduce non-traded carbon emissions from the public sector equivalent to taking nearly 45,000 cars off the road.

The funding is available for capital sustainability and heat decarbonisation projects within public sector non-domestic buildings, including central government departments and non-departmental public bodies across England.

Public sector bodies can apply for a grant to finance 100 per cent of the costs of capital energy saving projects which meet the schemes criteria – and there is no minimum or maximum grant value.

The scheme is managed by the BEIS delivery body Salix Finance

Which projects might qualify for a grant?

To access the funding, councils must apply for big ticket, Cat1 technical equipment such as air or ground source heat pumps — the kind of upgrade with the potential to deliver significant decarbonisation. Applying for Cat1 equipment then unlocks opportunities to access funding for Cat2 and Cat3 equipment. There is no minimum or maximum cap on the grant, but applicants must evidence a return on investment delivered over the lifetime of the installation.

Who can apply for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding?

As the registered owner of the building, only the local authority can submit an application. Leisure trusts and operators can support local authorities with an application, providing data to evidence the validity of the application and the estimated return on investment — partnership working is absolutely key.

Is Alliance Leisure working with any clients to access PSDS funding?

Yes. We are currently working with eight local authorities on applications for this funding, with potentially more to follow.

What is the application window?

The application window is very tight. The fund was only officially made available in October and the current closing dates for applications is January 10, 2021. There is also a caveat that agreed works must be completed by September 2021.

Is this grant only applicable for existing stock?

All new build developments will be decarbonised by legislation anyway, so this Grant Funding Scheme is specifically aimed at ageing stock.

How do you apply?

The application process is complex. Acting as a conduit for our clients, we are employing the expertise of our trusted partner, Leisure Energy, to facilitate applications. Delivering projects exponentially through the UK Leisure Framework means we can also access significant application discounts, which we pass directly on to our clients.

Time really is of the essence. We have just a few months to apply for £1 billion of funding before the opportunity closes. If you think your leisure stock could benefit from a Cat1 decarbonisation project, give us a call today to discuss the next steps.

Talk to us about the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

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£2.5m investment in Tenterden Leisure Centre power plant will cut carbon emissions and lower running costs

Cllr Matthew Forest

Chris Ames

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Announced*

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Announced*

*But hurry, applications close January 10, 2021

(England Only)

Why is the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme relevant for public sector leisure providers?

Which projects might qualify for a grant?

Who can apply for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding?

Is Alliance Leisure working with any clients to access PSDS funding?

What is the application window?

Is this grant only applicable for existing stock?

How do you apply?

Talk to us about the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

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