£265k grant for council building green upgrades

Springwell Gardens Community Centre is one of the buildings being upgraded

Three council-owned buildings in Rotherham will undergo upgrades funded by a £265,000 government grant to cut carbon emissions.

Springwell Gardens, 115 Middle Lane South and Swinton Customer Service Centre and Library will be fitted with low-carbon heat pumps, smart-controlled LED lighting solar panels, improved insulation, double glazing and water-saving fixtures.

A fourth building, Peacock Lodge Children's Home, will be upgraded using council funding after narrowly missing eligibility for the grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The total cost of the scheme is estimated at £422,000, with the council contributing around £156,000 from its decarbonisation budget.

It is expected to cut around 30 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, contributing to Rotherham Council's commitment to its operations being net zero by 2030.

Cost reductions will not be as significant, with the council anticipating yearly energy savings across the four sites to be about £3,800.

The buildings were chosen based on the condition of their existing heating systems and their suitability for efficient decarbonisation works, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Work is expected to begin later this year, with all upgrades to be completed by March 2026 in line with the scheme's funding rules.

Procurement of contractors will begin over the summer, with construction starting in the autumn.

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