Century old leisure centre goes gas free
A leisure centre built almost 100 years ago has stopped using fossil fuels with help from Salix.
The foundation stone of Pudsey Leisure Centre in West Yorkshire was laid by King George VI and his wife Elizabeth in 1928.
The project added green technology including air source heat pumps, loft insulation, and solar panels to help the building go gas free.
“I’m grateful to Salix for providing the funding for this and many other schemes in our area as well,” said Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Climate, Energy, Environment and Green Spaces.
“We've got another £5m in grants towards other public buildings, including a couple of schools,” he added.
🎥 Hear more about how our work transformed the leisure centre 👇
It was part of a round of projects completed by Salix as part of Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme worth around £6.5m, and comes as Leeds looks to become a net zero city by 2030.
“We are one of the 120 cities around the world who have become A-graded for our work around the climate agenda,” said councillor Rafique.
“Pudsey Leisure Centre has gone off gas completely, but it's just one example. We do electric vehicles including refuse vehicles, low-carbon and industry heating, and one of the biggest tree planting initiatives in the country,” he added.
"A very old, noble building"
Another of the buildings in the Leeds City Council area that’s been upgraded with our help is the Grade 1 listed Morley Town Hall.
“This is a very old, very noble building with some amazing windows and amazing halls inside,” said Kevin Holland, chief executive.
“Our team and the council had to collaborate to find a way to decarbonise a grand old building like this - and they've done it very successfully.”
“Really big, thick old carbon radiators, that are over a hundred years old, have been married together with air source heat pumps.”
This is a very old, very noble building with some amazing windows and amazing halls inside.
"The climate is for everybody"
Our work will continue to have an impact in West Yorkshire, with further projects already planned with Leeds City Council – protecting the future of our planet, as well as saving money.
“We had people here from Pudsey Grammar School and I think it's important that we engage young people,” said Cllr Rafique.
“The climate agenda is important for everybody, but more so our young people. It's important they get the message.”
Fun fact: If you thought of the BBC Children in Need bear when you read about Pudsey Leisure Centre, you were right. The character’s creator was from the town, which is why the well-known bear is named after it.
