Leisure centre gets £1.6m carbon-cutting scheme

A Kent leisure centre will have carbon-cutting technology and new changing facilities under a £1.6m scheme.

Funds will be used to install additional solar panels, improved insulation and air source heat pumps at Larkfield Leisure Centre.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council said it had been successful in securing external grants to cover most of the work.

The centre already has 190 solar panels which were fitted by the council in 2023.

The council said it had secured £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 received £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.

A further £150,000 scheme will see the refurbishment of changing facilities including new cubicles, toilets and flooring at the centre.

Decarbonising work at other leisure centres saw 180 solar panels fitted earlier this year at Tonbridge Swimming Pool.

Work is also under way on plans to replace the Angel Centre in Tonbridge with a new carbon neutral facility.

Councillor Robin Betts, cabinet member for climate change, said it showed the council’s commitment to making Tonbridge and Malling a “cleaner, greener, healthier borough”.

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