Appleby’s swimming pool will close for around six weeks so the building can become more environmentally friendly in a £388,000 scheme.
Work to start installing a new air source heat pump will begin on Monday, March 30.
Contractors will remove the air handling unit and begin preparatory work for the replacement of the existing gas boiler with a more energy efficient air source heat pump.
The building’s plant room pipes will also be insulated to reduce heat loss.
The swimming pool will be closed but the gym and changing facilities will stay open throughout the work.
Westmorland & Furness Council said there would need to be a further short closure at a later date, yet to be confirmed, to allow for the final connection of the air source heat pump, following confirmation from electricity suppliers.
There will be reduced parking on site to accommodate the contractors’ compound.
The council said: “To ease congestion on the site we would advise those who are able, to consider walking when possible, look at public transport routes or park in an alternative location.”
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which manages Appleby Leisure Centre on behalf of the council, will be in contact with membership holders and swimming lesson customers with further information before the boiler works begin, the authority added.
GLL is contacting schools directly to discuss alternative health and physical activity sessions.
The work is being paid for by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
The authority said it was aiming to be net zero by 2037.
Following Sport England and council investment to install triple glazing and 190 solar panels to the roof, it was handed £1.75 million in funding for work at Kendal Leisure Centre, Appleby Leisure Centre, Kendal Market and South Lakeland House, as the gas boilers in each building were due for replacement.
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix. The programme allows public authorities to fund work to decarbonise their estates in support of national decarbonisation targets.
All buildings will have their gas boilers replaced with air source heat pumps alongside additional energy saving work.
The council will match fund a minimum of 12% of the project costs from their prioritised capital maintenance budget, taking the total project value to over £2 million.
