Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Portsmouth is making a major leap towards sustainability, thanks to new funding secured by Portsmouth City Council.
The council’s in-house energy services team successfully applied for support from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, enabling significant eco-friendly upgrades at the popular community hub.
As part of the improvements, more than 570 solar panels have been installed on the centre’s roof — a move expected to offset 25% of the site’s total electricity use, with around 90% of that solar energy being used directly on-site.
Energy efficiency driving Net Zero ambitions
The upgrade also includes a new pool cover for the main swimming pool, designed to retain heat when the pool is not in use — further reducing the building’s overall energy demand.
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport, said:
“Winning this funding is fantastic. We are committed to investing in sport and leisure facilities across the city and have pledged to prioritise energy efficiency.
By securing this funding, we are continuing to deliver our vision of sustainable and vibrant public spaces for all residents to enjoy. With each project we undertake, we are not only improving quality of life for our residents but also actively working towards the important goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by the year 2030.”
Sustainability in action
Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development at BH Live, which operates the Mountbatten Centre, added:
“As a registered charity and social enterprise, improving sustainability in public leisure centres remains a key priority.
Last year, we were awarded Green Mark Level 2 accreditation thanks to our implementation of sustainable practices to reduce our carbon footprint. We also have many other sustainable measures in the centre, including LED lighting and a heat-retaining pool cover for our learner pool.
This will make a big difference to Mountbatten’s energy efficiency, allowing us to invest in even more projects for public benefit.”
More upgrades underway
Alongside the solar installation and pool upgrades, the Council is also using its Low Carbon Skills Fund to improve the centre’s ventilation system, replacing motors with more efficient models expected to cut electricity use by a further 10%.
In addition, the leisure centre’s UV filtration system — used to keep the pool clean — has been replaced with more energy-efficient technology, saving an estimated 9% in electricity consumption.
Together, these upgrades mark a major step forward in Portsmouth’s commitment to greener public spaces and its ambition to become a Net Zero city by 2030.
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