What Is The Sun Lane Leisure Centre Upgrade Scheme In Wakefield All About

Anyone who’s ever been for a swim or hit the gym at Sun Lane Leisure Centre in Wakefield knows it’s a brilliant spot. But running a massive building with a swimming pool takes a huge amount of power. Think about keeping all that water warm and the lights on all day – it’s a big job that uses a lot of energy. With costs for everything going up, it’s getting trickier to manage. So, a plan has been put in place. A major upgrade scheme is now underway to give the centre a futuristic, eco-friendly makeover, making it kinder to the planet and better for the local wallet.

This isn’t just about a lick of paint. It’s a full-on transformation using some clever green technology. The goal is simple: make the building way more efficient, cut down on those pesky carbon emissions, and make sure the people of Wakefield have a top-notch leisure facility for years to come. The work has already started on this ambitious upgrade scheme, which promises to make a real difference.

What's the big idea behind the upgrade

At its core, this whole project is about future-proofing the Sun Lane Leisure Centre. It’s one of the most energy-intensive buildings in Wakefield, meaning it guzzles a lot of electricity and gas to keep running. This project tackles that head-on. By installing new green technology, the council aims to slash the centre’s energy consumption and its carbon footprint. It’s a big step towards a greener Wakefield.

Cllr Hannah Appleyard, who is Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, put it this way:

“We all know that energy costs continue to rise. These works will provide a more cost and energy efficient pool. Meaning we can keep providing this important and high-quality service that I know so many of our residents use and enjoy.”

Basically, by spending money now on this upgrade scheme, the centre will save a lot more in the long run on its energy bills. This means the popular leisure facility can keep its doors open and services running smoothly without being hit so hard by rising costs. Cllr George Ayre, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Services, added that the works are essential.

“Sun Lane Leisure Centre is one of our most energy-intensive buildings.”

“These works will make the building more efficient, reduce carbon emissions, and modernise it for the future.”

It’s a win-win: better for the environment and better for the long-term health of a much-loved local spot.

So what's actually changing

This is where it gets interesting. A whole load of new kit is being installed to make the building a lean, green, energy-saving machine. It’s not just one thing, but a combination of different bits of green technology working together.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going in:

• Rooftop air source heat pumps: Three of these clever devices will be installed on the roof. Think of them like a fridge working in reverse. Instead of taking heat from the inside and pumping it out, they grab warmth from the outside air (even on a chilly day!) and use it to heat the building and the pool water. It’s a super-efficient way to generate heat without burning fossil fuels, which is great for reducing carbon emissions.
• Solar panels: The roof will also be fitted with solar panels. These do exactly what you’d expect – they soak up the sun’s rays and turn them into free, clean electricity to help power the leisure centre. More sunshine means less reliance on the main energy grid.
• LED lighting: All the old light bulbs throughout the building are being replaced with modern LED lighting. LEDs use a tiny fraction of the energy of old-style bulbs and last for ages, cutting down on both electricity use and maintenance costs.
• Thermal store: This is basically a giant, super-insulated hot water tank – an 8,000-litre one, to be exact! The thermal store holds onto hot water generated by the heat pumps and other systems. It stores the energy when it's cheap or efficient to produce and releases it when needed, making the whole heating system smarter and more effective.
• General upgrades: On top of all that, there will be improvements to the building's management system (the 'brain' that controls heating and lighting) and the general electrical infrastructure to make sure everything runs safely and efficiently. The entire electrical infrastructure is being reviewed to support this leap forward in energy management.

Who is footing the bill and doing the work

An ambitious project like this needs serious backing. The funding for this upgrade scheme comes from a government pot of money called the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This scheme is designed specifically to help public buildings like schools, hospitals, and leisure centres reduce their carbon emissions by investing in green technology. Nearly £5 million in funding is being pumped into the Sun Lane Leisure Centre project, showing just how significant this transformation is.

The work itself is being handled by the experts. Alliance Leisure is delivering the project. They have a lot of experience in developing leisure facilities across the country. They are working through something called the UK Leisure Framework, which is a system designed to make sure public projects like this are delivered well and provide good value for money. The framework is managed by a company called Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) on behalf of the council. This structure ensures that specialists in leisure and construction are leading the way, bringing their know-how to Wakefield. So, while the ideas are local, the delivery involves a team of seasoned professionals, from Alliance Leisure to Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.

What this all means for your next swim

The big question for most people is, "Will the centre be closed?" The good news is, disruption will be kept to a minimum. The plan is for the Sun Lane Leisure Centre to stay open for most of the construction period. There will be a short, temporary closure when the time comes to switch over from the old heating systems to the shiny new ones, but people will be given plenty of notice before that happens.

Once everything is finished, which is expected to be by March 2026, visitors will be using a facility that’s not just modern and comfortable, but also incredibly sustainable. The changes might not all be visible—after all, a lot of the magic happens with the new electrical infrastructure and on the roof with the solar panels and rooftop air source heat pumps—but the impact will be huge.

It means the leisure centre will be more resilient against future energy price shocks, helping to keep it affordable and accessible for everyone in the community. And every time someone goes for a swim or a workout, they’ll be doing it in a building that’s actively helping to reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier environment for Wakefield. It’s a fantastic investment in both local leisure and the planet.