Leisure centre goes fossil fuel free after £6m upgrade
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 13:02 · Archive
Vale of White Horse District Council has completed a £6m decarbonisation project at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon, making it fossil fuel free. The upgrade, which began in February 2024, replaced the centre's ageing gas boilers and combined heat and power system with modern air source heat pumps and 600 solar panels installed on the roof.
Since the solar panels were connected in December 2025, they have generated more than 175,000 kWh of electricity, which is enough to power around 70 average homes for a year. The leisure centre no longer relies on fossil fuels for heating or lighting.
Councillor Andrew Crawford, cabinet member for property, housing and economic development, said the renewable energy will make the centres cheaper to run and less vulnerable to sudden rises in energy costs. Councillor Dr Robert Clegg, cabinet member for environmental services, climate action and nature recovery, described the completion as 'a significant milestone in our efforts to tackle climate change' and said the centre is now 'future-proofed for years to come'. The project is part of the council's plan to become a net zero council by 2030.
How it is being reported
- Leisure centre goes fossil fuel free after £6m upgradeVale of White Horse District Council has completed the works at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon.Oxford Mail · 24 Oct, 12:30
- Leisure centre goes fossil fuel free after £6m upgradeVale of White Horse District Council has completed the works at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon.Oxfordshire Guardian · 24 Oct, 12:30
In this story: Vale of White Horse District Council · White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre · Abingdon
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