Driving Sustainable Change

How Alliance Leisure is Embedding Environmental Responsibility at Every Level

Tom Gardner

Business Development Manager

At Alliance Leisure, we believe that transforming community spaces must go hand-in-hand with transforming our impact on the planet.

Making public sector leisure sustainable and building healthy communities is our goal and we are committed to doing so in a way that respects and protects our environment.

Sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility for us, it is a strategic priority that underpins everything we do. While our recent Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO) Silver accreditation marked an important milestone, our real focus is on the long-term impact we create through everyday actions, across every project, and in every conversation.

More Than a Milestone

Our journey toward becoming a Carbon Literate Organisation has been one of reflection, learning, and action. Achieving Silver status meant demonstrating not only that the majority of our workforce has been certified as Carbon Literate, but also that we embedded these principles into our organisational processes, from performance management to project delivery.

But for Alliance, this is about more than accreditation. It’s about shaping the future of our industry, helping ensure leisure projects of today are built for the challenges of tomorrow.

Case Study: Carbon Literacy

Since our Carbon Literacy training the biggest change has been to our culture and ensuring that environmental awareness and Carbon Literacy play a part in how we act (e.g. conversations between team members, interactions with clients, environmental awareness) and the way we operate (i.e. our policies, systems and monitoring processes). 

Our EMS is now an active document that is updated throughout the year and has identified key areas that we focus on to reduce our impact on the environment.

We have been able to establish a baseline for our carbon emissions and map out a 10-year plan to be net zero by 2035.  This has included committing to the Carbon Club, operated by Forest Carbon. Comparing a 3-month period at the start of the 2024 with a 3-month period at the end, we have seen a reduction of 36% in our emissions from our car fleet. 

Turning Strategy into Action

Sustainability at Alliance is championed through a dedicated Working Group, a cross-functional team driving internal progress and supporting our external commitments.

Some of our key initiatives currently being implemented include:

  • Sustainable Transport Policy – Now embedded in our working practices and monitored via our Environmental Management System (EMS), this policy encourages more sustainable business travel choices across the company.

  • Carbon Offsetting – We’ve developed a process to evaluate offsetting options for business related carbon emissions, such as mileage and travel, helping us take full accountability for our environmental impact where reduction alone isn’t yet possible.

  • Project Based Social Value Contributions – As part of our commitment and working with our partners, we are looking to fund Carbon Literacy training for local communities and local authorities on selected capital projects, aligning our ESG ambitions with tangible community benefit.

  • Partner Engagement – We’ve initiated conversations with key partners to review and consolidate approaches to carbon reduction planning, aiming to support a consistent and robust sector wide standard.

These initiatives ensure our sustainability ethos is not confined to policy; it is integrated across our people, our partnerships, and our projects.

Case Study: Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre

The regeneration of Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre saw swim facilities reintroduced to the leisure centre after previous facilities fell into a state of disrepair, leaving local residents without pool provision for a period of for years.

In addition to the centre’s pool refurbishment, gas fuelled boilers were replaced by more efficient air source heat pumps, a move that is expected to cut carbon emissions by 61%. Solar panels were also added to the roof to generate energy for the building.

Sustainability through Delivery

Through the UK Leisure Framework, we partner with public sector organisations to develop and deliver sustainable facilities. Our role is not only to advise on low carbon options, but to ensure these are realised in practice, delivering against decarbonisation targets and improving long-term environmental outcomes.

From early-stage feasibility to post-occupancy evaluation, we support clients at every step, embedding environmental considerations into the lifecycle of every project.

Case Study: Knaresborough Leisure & Wellness Centre

This new build centre was originally commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council and is now part of a wider £47.9 million leisure transformation project by the newly Combined North Yorkshire Council.

The building achieved an impressive BREAAM ‘Excellent’ rating due to the adoption of a fabric-first approach to the building’s design.

A number of architectural and building fabric measures (passive design) plus energy efficient services (active design) were incorporated into the design, including:

  • 2 high efficiency air source heat pumps
  • 100 380W roof-mounted photovoltaic (solar) panels providing an estimated yield of 32,452 kWh per annum
  • Low SPF ventilation plant and high efficiency inverter drives
  • Building management system
  • LED lighting throughout with high lumen circuit watt values
  • Smart lighting control

Why it Matters

Climate action in the built environment is no longer optional, and the leisure sector has a crucial role to play. Our approach helps clients and communities navigate the transition to a low carbon future, delivering outcomes that are not only environmentally responsible but socially impactful.

Whether it’s cutting emissions, promoting active travel, or empowering local people through Carbon Literacy, we believe sustainable development delivers lasting value, and we’re proud to be leading by example.

To learn more about our approach to sustainability, visit our Sustainability Hub.
Sustainability Hub