Coventry City Council has successfully secured funding from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) to enhance sustainability efforts at three leisure centres in the city.
Almost £750k has been awarded to The Alan Higgs Centre, Centre AT7 and Xcel Leisure Centre, all of which are operated by CV Life.
A capital grant of £250,000 has been awarded to install solar panels at The Alan Higgs Centre, whilst Centre AT7 has received £270k for the installation of solar panels and the replacement of fluorescent lighting with LED lighting.
Xcel Leisure Centre will also see the installation of LED lighting as well as an upgrade to its building management system which will be covered by a £220k grant.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, added: “This funding is a real boost for CV Life leisure centres, helping them to become more energy efficient and sustainable.
“By installing solar panels, LED lighting and upgrading building management systems, we are taking steps to cut carbon emissions and reduce our reliance on traditional energy sources.
“Not only will these upgrades lower running costs over the coming years, they also contribute to our broader efforts to make Coventry a cleaner, greener city.”
Work to the centres started in January and is expected to be finished later this month. The installation of PV panels will contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability, ensuring long-term benefits for the facility and the local community.
Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, added: “It’s fantastic to see that Coventry has been awarded funding from Sport England to support four hugely popular leisure centres in the city.
“Day to day running costs of leisure centres is constantly on the rise. This funding will help the centres continue to provide high quality facilities to residents whilst reducing energy bills by around £140k per year.”
Funding was awarded based on a selection of sites serving areas with the highest need. The allocation of funding aligns with Sport England’s national funding scheme aimed at supporting public leisure centres with swimming pools across the country.
Steve Wiles, Chief Operating Officer at CV Life, said: “We’re delighted to have secured this funding, which will make a real difference to the sustainability of our leisure centres.
“These improvements will help us reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and create more environmentally friendly facilities for the community. By investing in solar panels, LED lighting, and building management upgrades, we’re ensuring that our centres remain accessible, efficient and fit for the future.”
For further details on the Swimming Pool Support Fund, please visit the SPSF webpage.