£2.8 million grant secured to power-up Northcroft Leisure Centre's green transformation

West Berkshire Council is pleased to announce a successful £2.8 million grant award from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to help deliver a major green upgrade at Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury.

This significant investment, alongside an additional £387,000 from the Council, will fund a wide-ranging decarbonisation project designed to dramatically improve the building's energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and support the Council's wider climate and environmental goals as it progresses on its pathway to net zero.

It builds on the recent improvements of the centre's facilities, ensuring this much-loved community venue is future-ready in every sense.

Planned works, set for completion by March 2027, include:

• Installation of air source heat pumps
• New energy-efficient air handling units
• Cavity wall insulation
• Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
• A cutting-edge Building Energy Management System (BEMS)

Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Highways at West Berkshire Council, said:

"This is a major step forward in our climate journey. Northcroft Leisure Centre is a valued community landmark, and this work will ensure it's as sustainable as it is popular."

Councillor Nigel Foot, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Countryside at West Berkshire Council, added:

"We're proud to continue investing in cleaner, greener leisure facilities. This funding means real progress towards reducing our carbon footprint."

Sally Thomas-Ellis, Regional Contract Manager at Everyone Active, who manages the centre on the Council's behalf, welcomed the news:

"It is great news to have more onsite renewable energy generation and improvements to energy efficiency, which will further reduce the centre's carbon footprint going forward. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside West Berkshire Council in meeting their net zero ambitions, which is the most important part of our own net zero strategy."

The works, set to begin in 2026, will be carefully planned to minimise disruption for centre users.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.

Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix Ian Rodger said:

"We're delighted to support West Berkshire Council as it works towards its net zero goals.

"The work will not only improve the energy efficiency of a much-used community venue, but it will enable it to be transformed into a more comfortable place for the many thousands of people who enjoy visiting it every year.

"We look forward to working with the council as part of our work delivering the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme."