Improvements to energy efficiency and changing facilities
Larkfield Leisure Centre is set for a £1.6m investment which will see delivery of the latest carbon cutting technology and new changing facilities.
The bulk of the investment by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council will be focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the installation of additional solar panels, improved insulation and air source heat pumps to service the centre’s fitness pool.
Design work for the solar panel system is underway, including a survey to establish which roof areas will be best able to maximise on-site electricity generation. The council is also inviting tenders for the design and installation of air source heat pumps. The designers will ensure the new equipment works with the existing water and heating systems with installation expected to start in 2025.
External grants are being used to help fund the improvements at the centre which already has 190 solar panels which were fitted by the Council in 2023. The council was successful in securing £393,000 for more solar panels and £12,039 for the installation of LED lighting in pool areas from the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund. It also secured a further £1,164,760 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, administered by Salix on behalf of the Department for Energy and Net Zero, which is being used to fund the fitness pool heat pumps.
The investment is part of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s plans for decarbonising its leisure facilities, which are operated by tmactive. Earlier this year, Tonbridge Swimming Pool had 180 solar panels fitted, saving an estimated 16 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The council is also working on plans to replace the Angel Centre in Tonbridge with a new carbon neutral facility.
The Larkfield centre is also set to benefit from a refurbishment of changing facilities this autumn. The £150,000 scheme will see new cubicles, toilets and flooring installed with temporary changing arrangements in place to allow customers to continue to use the swimming facilities. Improvements are also planned for Tonbridge Swimming Pool where £200,000 will be spent on upgrading the health suite.
Cllr Robin Betts, council cabinet member for climate change, said: “We’re committed to investing in our leisure facilities and in particular making sure that we are driving down carbon emissions and reducing our reliance on volatile energy markets. Delivering improved facilities for users and the latest technology for clean energy to heat our pools and buildings is a key plank of our wider commitment to reduce the amount of carbon we produce across all council operations.
“Along with our plans to replace the Angel Centre in Tonbridge with a modern, efficient building, these improvements demonstrate our commitment to achieving our goal of making Tonbridge and Malling a cleaner, greener, healthier borough.”
Ian Rodger, director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, said: “We are delighted to support Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council on their decarbonisation journey. The project at their Larkfield Leisure Centre will not only provide a significant reduction to the council’s carbon footprint but will also help to ensure that the local community can continue to access this vital facility for generations to come.”