Green tech features strongly in leisure centre refurbishment project

Cheshire East Council and the borough’s leisure trust Everybody Sport and Recreation have invested more than £2.2m in an extensive revamp of another of the borough’s leisure facilities.

Nantwich Leisure Centre is the latest in one of a number of major leisure and sports improvement projects across Cheshire East.

A VIP open day takes place later this week with special guest Dame Sarah Storey, the most decorated Paralympic athlete, who lives in Cheshire.

The project has seen the construction of a single-storey extension to the front of the existing gym, creating office space, a café and a kitchen area. A bright, spacious reception area on the ground floor offers a new welcoming façade to the building. There is a new first floor exercise studio and improved changing and locker provision.

The council and Everybody engaged Equans – the new brand for Engie’s transitional low-carbon energy and solutions company – to design and install smart build technology as part of the council’s drive towards a carbon neutral authority by 2025. It is rated ‘Good’ through the Breeam certification scheme following a £350,000 investment.

The council was able to draw on the public sector decarbonisation fund to help finance the project to make the build eco-efficient and sustainable, with energy-saving solar panels on the roof and smart control technology throughout the building, minimising energy running costs.  

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: “We want our residents and visitors to the borough to be able to enjoy the best possible leisure and sports facilities and the refurbishment of Nantwich pools and gym, now known as Nantwich Leisure Centre, represents a further step towards that goal.

“I want to thank the teams at the council, Everybody Sport and Recreation and Equans, for the hard work they have put in to refurbishing this facility, providing excellent state-of-the-art amenities, so that members and visitors can enjoy their time there and be part of the council’s ‘healthy and active lives’ ethos.

“The green energy-saving features of this building further demonstrate this council’s green credentials and its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2025.”

Tom Barton, executive director Everybody, said: “Our team has been working closely with Cheshire East Council colleagues to help make all our leisure estate as energy efficient as possible. Working with Equans too on this development, we have taken the build opportunity to ensure the technology and operating systems provide a sustainable community facility for the future that contributes towards the important low-carbon agenda.”

Alyson Seddon, head of education and public buildings for Equans UK and Ireland, said: “We’re really pleased to have finished work on this exciting, low-carbon project on behalf of Cheshire East. The leisure centre is a key part of the community in Nantwich, and we’re delighted to be able to provide a new look destination that also meets the council’s carbon net-zero targets.

“Throughout the regeneration, Equans has prided itself on working closely with the local community and, since starting on-site in 2021, a special interest group for local charities was formed, which allowed funding of up to £10,000 to be provided by Equans to community groups in and around Nantwich.”

Dame Sarah will officially open the new gym and cycle studio on Saturday. The newly named Nantwich Leisure Centre also features revamped indoor and outdoor swimming pools, one of them the extremely popular brine pool, both of which have been extensively refurbished.

The council, in partnership with Everybody, is making considerable investment in the improvement of leisure and sports facilities throughout the borough. Congleton Leisure Centre is currently undergoing a £10m refurbishment, including two new pools, thermal suite, extended gym and fitness facilities, soft play area and new café.

Pictured - The new look Nantwich Leisure Centre.