Blandford Leisure Centre, Dorset

Powering Community Facilities Sustainably

As part of Dorset Council’s £18m SALIX-funded decarbonisation programme, Step Energy delivered a major sustainability upgrade at Blandford Leisure Centre.

This scheme aimed to cut the centre’s reliance on natural gas, lower operating costs, and provide long-term carbon savings – all while ensuring the busy leisure centre stayed open to the public.

The wider SALIX programme covers 260 sites, including schools, care homes, heritage sites, civic offices, and leisure centres, achieving more than 20% carbon reduction and saving around £1 million annually in energy costs. Step Energy played a leading role in this transformation, delivering works across 19 schools, 2 leisure centres, a heritage site and Dorset County Hall.

Step Energy Scope of Works

Step Energy’s role in the Blandford Sports Centre decarbonisation project included:

Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs): Design, procurement, manufacture and installation of four bespoke units (1 x 32kW and 3 x 55kW), engineered in-house for maximum efficiency.
Pool Plant Upgrade: Complete reconfiguration including new pumps, plate heat exchangers, and two high-efficiency water heaters.
Ventilation Improvements: Upgraded supply and extract systems to improve air quality and efficiency.
Building Management System (BMS): Installation of an advanced IQview8 control system for monitoring and optimisation.
Phased Delivery: Careful scheduling of pump outages and pre-heating strategies to keep the swimming pool in use throughout works.
PV Integration: Works aligned with the existing 52kWp solar PV array, maximising renewable generation.

Project Benefits

Energy Savings: Reduction in annual energy consumption from 1,163,089 kWh to approx. 751,347 kWh – a near 65% decrease.
Carbon Reduction: Estimated 393 tonnes of CO₂ saved
annually, equivalent to planting around 13,200 trees.
Cost Efficiency: Anticipated significant reduction in operational energy costs for Dorset Council and leisure centre operators.
Integration with Renewables: Combined impact with the previously installed 52kWp PV array to maximise renewable energy use.
Future Proofed Infrastructure: Modernised heating, ventilation and pool plant systems designed for long-term performance.

Client feedback

Step Energy’s flexible approach and senior leadership support helped us deliver this complex programme under tight conditions.
– Dorset Council UK

Outcome

The project demonstrates Step Energy’s ability to deliver large-scale decarbonisation schemes for local authorities, combining bespoke renewable energy technology with careful project management to keep community services running.

This installation forms part of Dorset Council’s wider county-wide decarbonisation strategy, covering more than 20 sites, and reflects how Salix-funded projects can rapidly accelerate carbon reduction goals across public facilities.

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