Blaby District Council has completed the installation of over 490 solar panels on the roof of Enderby Leisure Centre, delivering clean, renewable energy to help cut both costs and carbon emissions.
The solar array, designed and installed by Plug Me In, is expected to generate approximately 202,699 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to power around 70 average homes each year.
Picture: Enderby Leisure & Golf Centre
By switching to solar, the leisure centre will reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 39 tonnes of CO? emissions per year. This move also strengthens Everyone Active’s efforts to become more energy independent and less vulnerable to rising utility costs. Everyone Active currently operates and manages the facility.
The £249,000 project was funded by £140,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with an additional £109,000 investment from Blaby District Council.
This solar initiative aligns with the Council’s wider climate goals, as outlined in the Blaby Plan, which includes a commitment to become a net zero council by 2030 and to help the wider district reach net zero by 2050.
The Enderby Leisure Centre project follows a similar solar installation at the Council’s depot in Whetstone. In addition, councillors recently approved plans to roll out electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at the depot, supporting the transition to a fully electric council fleet.
Plans are also underway to install EV charging points at Enderby Leisure Centre as part of a broader, countywide initiative.
Councillor Nigel Grundy, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, said: “We are immensely proud to have delivered this project with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It’s a clear statement of our commitment to sustainability.”
Councillor Nick Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Community and Economic Development, added: “Installing these panels helps future-proof the centre against escalating energy prices, providing financial certainty for both the Council and Everyone Active.”
James Naylor, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, commented: “We’re delighted to see these investments making a real impact in reducing the centre’s carbon footprint. Working with Blaby District Council supports our shared commitment to achieving net zero.”
For more information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, visit:
UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK
