February Revision 001 1 © Sport England 2015

Sustainable Clubs

Refurbishment and Sustainable Energy Sourcing

SLEAFORD LEISURE CENTRE: NORTH KESTEVEN

Key featuresEnvironmental sustainability initiatives and improvements:

• Communityconsultationtoestablishaneffectiveandsustainablesolution

• Partneringwithlocalrenewableenergyplantforheatingsupply

• Cost-effectiverefurbishmentavoidingnewbuildcapitaloutlay

• InstallationofLEDlightingandpooltankinsulation

• Refurbishmentoforiginal1910bellfilters

• Poolupgradetomodernstandards

The History of the PoolSleafordoutdoorswimmingpoolhasbeenopensince1886,anddespite being updated in 1981 was still in need of furtherrefurbishment,with increasingmaintenancecostsand reducingturnstilenumbers.

TheprioritiesfortheDistrictCouncilweretocontinuetosupportthehealthandwell-beingof thecommunitywhilstalsoofferingvalueformoney.Afterreviewinganumberofoptions,theCounciltookthedecisiontoinvestintheredevelopmentofthefacilityinasustainablemannertoincludetransportfactors,energyefficiency,communityneeds,andsustainableenergyprovision.

The ProjectFollowing some careful planning, £2.9m was invested inredeveloping the existing facility and incorporate a range ofsustainabilitymeasures.ItnowoperatesasSleafordLeisureCentreand offers fitness facilities (gym), group exercise (aerobics),personal training, sauna / steam rooms, swimming pool andchildren’ssplashpool.Theprojecthasbeenagreatsuccess,andatc50%ofthecostofanewcentre,hasledtoanincreaseofover60%inturnstilenumbers.

Transport and CommunityTheSleafordswimmingpoolisacommunityfacility,andasurveyof3,000householdsshowedaclearpreferencetokeepthecurrentsiteopenwithinthetowncentre,andremovetheneedtodrivetoanewsite.Inadditiontothesurvey,theCouncilheldconsultationmeetings to discuss all the options, and, once a strategywasagreed,continuedtoprovideprogressupdatestothelocalpeople.Takingintoaccounttheneedtoclosethecentrefortheworks,italsoprovideddetailsofalternativefacilitiesthatcouldbeusedintheinterveningtimeperiod.

Entrance prior to refurbishment

New entrance after project completion

February Revision 001 2 © Sport England 2015

Sustainable Clubs

Refurbishment and Sustainable Energy Sourcing

All photographs provided by North Kesteven District Council

https://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/

https://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/user-guide/Clickherefor‘User Guide’

Clickhereforcurrent‘Design and Cost Guidance’

Energy Efficient RefurbishmentTheupgrade includedanumberofenergyefficiencymeasuressuchastheinstallationofLEDlighting,additionalinsulationofthepooltank,andfullrefurbishmentoftheoriginal1910bellfilters.Thefivelanepoolhasalsobeentransformedtoaleveldeck,withitsbaseandgradientmodifiedtomeetSportEnglandguidelines.

Upgradeofdisabledchangingfacilitiestoencouragegreateruse,amorespaciousentrance,agymnasiumandweightsroom,andtheadditionofasaunaandsteamroomwerealsoincluded.

Sustainable Power and Heat GenerationTheLeisureCentreisthefirstofitskindintheUKtobefullyheatedbyasustainabledistrictheatingsystemthatisfiredwithstrawbalesprovidedbyfarmswithina50mileradiusofthesite.Theplantwasbeingdesignedtoprovideenoughelectricityfor65,000homesandexcessheatisprovidedtofivepublicandcommunitybuildingsinthe centre of town. This included the swimming pool, the localfootballclub,thebowlingclub,aprimaryschoolandthecouncil’sownoffices.Itisestimatedthattheheatprovidedfromthepowerplantwillsavec£15,000onheatingandhotwaterbillseachyeartothecentre.

AwardsTheprojecthasreceivednationalrecognitionforitsconceptanddesignandistestamenttotheexcellentworkundertaken.

Straw burning power station supplying district heating

Seethe‘Sustainable Clubs’sectionoftheSportEnglandwebsiteforgeneralguidancespecifictosportsclubsandotherexamplesofenergysavingmeasuresavailableat:

http://www.sustainableclubs.co.uk/

Forfurtherinformationonsustainabilityandfundingsupportthatisspecifictoaparticularsport,clubsshouldcontacttheirNationalGoverningBody

Upgraded pool hall with level deck pool edge

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..Sustainable planning principles help provide improved leisure facilities that meet the aspirations of the community and help promote healthier lifestyles across the whole district...

Ian Fytche ChiefExecutive,NorthKestevenDistrictCouncil