Council awarded £145k to install solar panels at leisure centre in Cannock
Cannock Chase Council has received £145,000 to install solar panels at a town leisure centre.
The money has come from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund and has been used to install photo voltaic panels at Chase Leisure Centre.
Last year the council was awarded £238,000 from the fund to install solar panels at Rugeley Leisure Centre. Cabinet members were told at their meeting on Thursday (July 31) about the latest project.
Deputy leader David Williams said retrospective permission was being sought for the spend as the council had only been given an eight-week window for the project. He added: “The 370 solar panels are going to save CO2 at zero cost to the council.
“This secures our leisure provision for families while meeting net zero commitments. It’s a success story for the council.”
A report to the cabinet said: “Initially, requests for funding to Sport England exceeded the total funding available; two bids were submitted in respect of Chase and Rugeley Leisure Centres. In the first round, funding was awarded to deliver solar panels at Rugeley Leisure Centre.
“Cannock Chase Council was notified in March 2025 of an opportunity to accept an additional Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase II capital award in respect of Chase Leisure Centre. Sport England had some wider underspends across their portfolio; therefore, this project was next in line to receive an offer.
“The funding offer was to be accepted on the basis that the council could deliver the work on site and claim the funding by 31st May 2025. The council therefore had a very short time period to deliver this project.
“In partnership with leisure operator Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL), Cannock Chase Council was already making positive progress delivering the solar installation at Rugeley Leisure Centre on time. It was therefore possible and timely for IHL to quickly engage their contractors to accelerate the delivery of a similar intervention at Chase Leisure Centre to meet the deadline set by Sport England.
“These interventions will improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The installation includes 370 photovoltaic modules, generating 166.5kWp; this will produce an estimated saving of 39.3 tonnes of CO2 in year one.”
