More than £5m to be spent on Pendle’s leisure facilities

 

Over the next two years, more than £5.1 million will be spent on energy-efficient upgrades and facility improvements to tackle climate change and address CO2 emissions from its buildings.

This is in addition to the investment that has already been made in refurbishing and repairing the centres over recent years.

All the improvements will help to make the leisure facilities financially and environmentally sustainable and secure their long-term future as Pendle Borough Council moves towards Local Government Reorganisation.

Improvements, including the installation and upgrade of LED lighting and glazing, the installation of solar panels and upgrading heating systems, will take place at all the borough’s sports centres - Pendle Wavelengths in Nelson, Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne, West Craven Sports Centre in Barnoldswick and Seedhill Athletics and Fitness Centre in Nelson.

The installation and upgrade of LED lighting and glazing and the installation of solar panels has been completed or is in the process of being done at all of the centres.

The upgrade to the heating systems is at the early stages of design. The implementation of the works will be scheduled over an 18-24 month period after the initial design process is completed in the coming months.

Councillor David Whipp, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “This significant investment demonstrates the Council’s commitment to greener, more sustainable facilities, making them more financially viable and energy efficient.

“These upgrades will support the long-term sustainability of the facilities which serve thousands of residents and visitors each year and will put us in good stead for Local Government Reorganisation.”

The £1.7m Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant secured by Pendle Borough Council will pay for existing gas fired boilers to be replaced with air source heat pumps and for windows to be upgraded.

The Council has provided an additional £900,000, bringing the total investment to £2.6m.

Pendle Borough Council has been awarded £342,000 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund to help with the increased cost of running swimming pools.  

There is also £564,000 in match funding from Nelson Town Deal for the work at Wavelengths.

And a total of £750,000 from the Energy Efficiency Fund has been allocated in the 2025/26 Capital Programme, with a further £582,000 planned for the 2026/27 Capital Programme.

Simon Gwynne, Chief Executive of Pendle Leisure Trust which runs the leisure services on behalf of the Council, added: “These works will have a significant impact on improving the energy efficiency and supporting the long-term sustainability of the centres, as well as reducing our carbon footprint.

“I am delighted Pendle Borough Council has provided the funding and secured the external grants needed to make these substantial improvements to our centres.”

Councillor Mohammad Hanif, Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services, said: “This funding has provided a lifeline for the long-term sustainability of these much-loved leisure facilities.”