A project to reduce the carbon footprint of Portsmouth’s flagship leisure centre has completed thanks to funding secured by Portsmouth City Council.

The council’s in-house energy services team secured funding from Sport England’s swimming pool support fund (Swimming Pool Support Fund | Sport England) to improve energy efficiency and keep running costs down at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre.

It is estimated that nearly all (90%) of the electricity generated by the 573 new solar panels will be used directly by the centre and offset 25% of the centre’s total electricity consumption.

Additionally, its main pool will benefit from a new pool cover to retain heat when it’s not in use.

Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport said:

“Winning this funding is fantastic. We are committed to investing in sport and leisure facilities across the city and have pledged to prioritise energy efficiency. By securing this funding, we are continuing to deliver our vision of sustainable and vibrant public spaces for all residents to enjoy.

“With each project we undertake, we are not only improving quality of life for our residents but also actively working towards the important goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by the year 2030.”

On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development shared:

“As a registered charity and social enterprise, improving sustainability in public leisure centres remains a key priority. Last year, we were awarded Green Mark Level 2 accreditation thanks to our implementation of sustainable practices to reduce our carbon footprint. We also have many other sustainable measures in the centre, including LED lighting and the installation of a cover on our learner pool to retain heat.

“This will make a big difference to Mountbatten’s energy efficiency, allowing us to invest in even more projects for public benefit.”

In addition to the work funded by Sport England’s swimming pool support fund, Portsmouth City Council is contributing investment from their own Low Carbon Skills fund to upgrade the leisure centre’s ventilation system with more efficient motors, which will reduce electricity consumption by a further 10%.

Alongside this, the UV filtration system that keeps the pool clean is being replaced with more efficient filters, reducing electricity use by 9%.

These initiatives combined, once complete, will offset over 300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions at the leisure centre per year, the equivalent of growing over 13,000 trees.

Thanks to the council’s capital projects team, other improvements have also completed in Mountbatten Leisure Centre’s sports hall. Popular with local schools, community groups, sports teams, and more, the centre’s sports hall has been  refreshed, benefitting from improved  flooring and walls.

Staff rooms, function rooms, and the Terrace Café’s kitchen and seating area have also been refreshed. Several rooms throughout the centre have also had their heating systems upgraded to ensure maximum comfort.

More information about Mountbatten, including timetables, opening times and facilities can be found online at bhliveactive.org.uk/mountbatten.