Energy-guzzling leisure centre to undergo £3.2m upgrade

Site will be better off financially and lower carbon emissions

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL leaders have backed a £3.2 million scheme to decarbonise a leisure centre.

The proposed works at Jubilee 2 in Newcastle would see the centre's two gas boilers replaced with a heat pump system, along with the installation of solar thermal collectors.

Newcastle Borough Council says J2 currently uses a 'tremendous amount' of gas and electricity, and is the biggest emitter of carbon in the authority's estate. The council is set to receive £2.79 million of government funding for the decarbonisation project, with a further £417,093 coming out of its own capital budget.