Kent leisure centre to see major investment start this year

Larkfield Leisure Centre in Aylesford, Kent, is set for a £1.6 million upgrade to install the latest carbon cutting technology and new changing facilities.

The investment is part of Tonbridge and Malling borough council’s plans for decarbonising its leisure facilities, which are operated by tmactive.

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Design work for the solar panels is underway and the council is inviting tenders for the design and installation of air source heat pumps. Installation is expected to start in 2025.

The centre will also see its changing facilities refurbished this autumn in a £150,000 scheme for new cubicles, toilets and flooring.

Improvements are also planned at Tonbridge swimming pool where £200,000 will be spent on upgrading the health suite.

"We’re committed to investing in our leisure facilities and in particular making sure that we are driving down carbon emissions and reducing our reliance on volatile energy markets," said Cllr Robin Betts, council cabinet member for climate change.

"Delivering improved facilities for users and the latest technology for clean energy to heat our pools and buildings is a key plank of our wider commitment to reduce the amount of carbon we produce across all council operations."

External grants are being used to help fund the improvements at the Larkfield centre, which already had 190 solar panels fitted last year.

The council was successful in securing £393,000 for more solar panels and £12,039 for the installation of LED lighting in pool areas from the government’s swimming pool support fund.

It also secured a further £1,164,760 from the public sector decarbonisation scheme, administered by Salix on behalf of the Department for Energy and Net Zero.