Altrincham’s transformed leisure centre will be Trafford Council’s most sustainable sports facility when it opens this month.
move Altrincham will throw open its doors in a phased opening as the first leisure centre in the borough to be warmed with huge air source heat pumps and solar panels.
The forward-thinking heating system is much more sustainable than standard gas central heating – and will save over 400 tonnes of carbon per year. The remaining electricity imported off the grid is from a 100%, green, renewable supply.
The entire facility benefits from new building management systems (BMS), operating the most efficient pumps, motors and controls, to ensure it runs as efficiently as possible.
More than 8,000 tonnes of carbon will be saved over the lifecycle of the pumps and panels, addressing the Council’s priority of addressing the climate crisis and becoming Carbon Neutral by 2038.
The costs of installing two air source heat pumps and solar panels have been supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, with over £2m of funding secured to bring the scheme to life.
Two fully-refurbished swimming pools will use a state-of-the-art microfiltration system to achieve purer water, better pool operation, reduced running costs and less water needed.
There will be an onsite active travel hub, thanks to money from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, providing safe and secure storage for bikes and wheeled access to the building, linking in with the area’s Active Travel network, as well as EV charging points on the car park.
Leisure centres, run by Trafford Leisure, account for 11% of Trafford Council's carbon footprint and play an important role in addressing climate change, as well as giving people a chance to lead active healthy lifestyles.
The £20m transformation of move Altrincham is part of a wider programme to build exemplary, sustainable solutions into leisure facilities.
A full refurbishment of Partington's leisure centre will also feature low carbon heating, and an ambitious plan for move Urmston will warm the leisure centre with waste heat from a data centre being built on site.
Cllr Aidan Williams, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change said:
“move Altrincham is a great example of how we’re setting new standards in Trafford that will help the Council achieve its zero carbon goals and send a powerful message to our communities that we treat climate change seriously and are working hard to create a greener, cleaner future.”