A leisure centre in Great Malvern is set to receive up to £400,000 to revamp its facility.

Malvern Splash Leisure Complex will receive the funding for re-roofing and the installation of solar panels.

Malvern Hills District Council’s executive committee approved £220,000 in funding during a meeting on Tuesday (April 23) which will come from the priorities earmarked reserve.

The rest, amounting to £174,430, will come from the Swimming Pool Support Fund, which the government made available to support public swimming pool providers to improve energy efficiency, alleviate cost pressures, and more.

Rob Tyler, area manager at Freedom Leisure, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Malvern Hills District Council on these projects to improve the efficiency of Malvern Splash.

"We work hard every day to reduce our energy use and these improvements will enable us to make Malvern Splash more sustainable and minimise its impact on the environment".

To install the solar PV panels, the facility requires a re-roof which, according to the council, is approaching the end of life.

The council and Freedom Leisure have been working together to reduce energy costs and the carbon footprint of Malvern Splash with a total savings of around £15,000 and 35tCo2.

In response to rising energy costs, the council had to approve a financial energy support package, resulting in a £190,000 reduction in the annual management fee, from £350,000 to £160,000, effective from 2023/24.

The project is predicted to save 186,445 kWh in electricity usage, a 40 percent reduction from 22/23, see a reduction of 39.5tCo2, and deliver savings of £49,389 per year in energy costs.

Cllr John Gallagher, portfolio holder for Resources at Malvern Hills District Council, said: "This funding will help reduce energy costs, as well as the carbon footprint, of this much-loved facility in Great Malvern which will assist in keep the facility running.

"As a council, we prioritise investing in our community facilities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as becoming carbon neutral and delivering our Destination Zero Plan".