Eco friendly plans have been drawn up to modernise Broadmeadow Sports Centre in Teignmouth and to further reduce its carbon footprint.

If given the go-ahead, the £3.7 million project will see major improvements to the centre with for example a new frontage and reception overlooking the car park, additional studio space, improved changing facilities. expansion of the current gym and studio plus improved lighting.

At the same time and as part of the second stage of decarbonisation works, action will be taken to reduce heat loss and the need for active cooling, heat recovery ventilation systems will be introduced, and gas-fired heating will be replaced by low carbon air source heat pumps or similar heat pump technologies.

The combined measures are anticipated to further reduce the centre’s carbon footprint by the equivalent of taking 26 cars off the road and some of this work will be funded by a successful £309,700 grant bid from the national Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Reducing the centre’s carbon footprint is a key project in implementing the council’s Carbon Action Plan which was approved in July 2022 and which aims to reduce council demand for natural gas by 88%.

Councillors will debate the project at next week’s full council meeting.

Having opened three decades ago, much of existing mechanical and electrical equipment is nearing the end of its life so the timing is ideal for the decarbonisation work to take place.

The modernisation of the centre is aimed at encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle through making it easy for people to access good quality facilities, attracting former and new users to Broadmeadow.

Feasibility studies have shown the demand in the Teignmouth and Bishopsteignton areas for the facilities at Broadmeadow and councillors have previously included the project in its capital budget.

Executive Member for Open Spaces, Leisure, Sport, Resorts and Tourism, Cllr John Nutley welcomed the plans and the proposed improvements to the centre.  “By modernising the facilities and creating more space for users we will encourage more residents to become active with all the associated health benefits that brings.

“Implementing the vital decarbonisation measures at the same time as the refurbishment will minimise disruption for centre members.”