Wiltshire Council has successfully bid for more than £4.4m from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to reduce carbon emissions by upgrading the heating systems in many of its buildings.

The award, which totals £4,452,281, will be spent on a series of energy efficiency and decarbonisation schemes that will update the heating systems and generate electricity at several Wiltshire Council buildings.

The majority of the funding will be used to install air to water heat pump systems at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury, Warminster Leisure Centre, the Olympiad in Chippenham, and, subject to planning permission, Lime Kiln Leisure Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett. Solar panels will also be installed at a further 19 council buildings, including leisure centres, libraries and depots; while further heating and air handling upgrades will be made at 10 council properties.

In October 2020, the council also received £185,818 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This was spent on replacing the gas boilers at Warminster Library with an air to water heat pump system and installing solar panels on the roof of the library. The funding was also used to install solar panels on the roof at the Nadder Centre in Tisbury. This work was completed in March and will save an estimated 30 tonnes of carbon each year.

Simon Hendey, Director of Housing and Commercial, said: “This is significant funding that will enable us to reduce our carbon emissions by upgrading heating systems, and also reduce our energy bills longer term. In addition, costs will be mitigated as electricity will be generated by solar panels at 19 of our buildings.

“Once all the upgrades are completed in the autumn, they will save 1,200 tonnes of carbon each year, and also bring the council financial savings.

“The changes will also help us to embed expertise on new, greener technologies, such as air and water heat pumps, into the Wiltshire workforce, which will make it easier for residents to make similar changes to their properties, should they wish to do so.

“We will continue to pursue all avenues for funding to help decarbonise our property estates as we progress with our aim to make the county of Wiltshire carbon neutral by 2030.”