Active Nottingham (part of Nottingham City Council) celebrated a major sustainability upgrade by expanding the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at Harvey Hadden Sports Village as part of Phase 3 of a Nottingham City Council project.
676 solar PV panels (1,365 square metres) have been added to the rooftop above the swimming pool, generating clean, renewable energy directly for the site. With this addition, it is also believed that Harvey Hadden Sports Village is one of the UK’s largest solar-powered leisure centres.
Around 79 per cent of the energy generated will be consumed on-site, supporting the centre’s daily operations. Any surplus energy is cleverly diverted to an electric pool heater, reducing the site’s reliance on gas and boosting overall energy efficiency. This integration not only increases the sustainability of the leisure centre, but also further reduces its carbon footprint.
The investment of over £449,000 of Salix support forms part of Nottingham City Council’s broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainable energy across the city.
Construction company Lindum Group managed the project on behalf of Nottingham City Council, working with UK Alternative Energy and Empire Scaffolding GM Ltd (based just four miles from the leisure centre) to install more than 307.58kWp of high-performance, Tier 1 solar panels across multiple roof areas of the centre.
Lindum conducted a detailed structural and environmental assessment to ensure maximum performance with minimal impact and roof integrity and safety were prioritised through pre- and post-installation roof conditioning, alongside the extension of the existing Mansafe system for ongoing maintenance.
Executive Member for Carbon Reduction, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Sam Lux, said: “Harvey Hadden Sports Village is one of the most energy-intensive buildings that we own, so it has been at the forefront of our efforts to decarbonise.
“I’m proud that we have taken a significant step forward, installing a new 307.58-kilowatt rooftop solar PV system, including an additional 676 state-of-the-art bifacial panels generating clean electricity each year starting this month.
“These savings aren’t just environmental — they support our ambition for financial sustainability and make the centre more resilient for the future. It’s a great example of what Nottingham is doing to lead the way in decarbonising public buildings and investing in a greener city.”
Head of Service for Environment and Sustainability, Jorge Santana, said: “With one of the largest solar installations on a UK leisure centre, Harvey Hadden is leading the way for carbon-neutral public infrastructure. By integrating solar power with the centre’s operations—including a system that uses surplus energy to heat the swimming pool—we’re cutting emissions, lowering energy costs, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This project was funded in part by the Salix Recycling Fund, enabling us to reinvest previous savings into impactful, future-facing carbon reduction solutions.”
Lindum Group Director, Richard Shaw said: “This has been a good project which showcases what’s possible when smart design meets sustainability goals. Harvey Hadden Sports Village is now equipped with a clean energy system that will deliver cost and carbon savings for decades to come.
“To support this installation, Lindum integrated a comprehensive electrical infrastructure. A central inverter was installed within the site’s plant room with all cabling and containment systems installed to current best practices and futureproofed with capacity for system expansion.”
The scheme was funded through the Salix Recycling Fund – a partnership between Nottingham City Council and Salix Finance, which provides conditional grants to support low-carbon projects across the council’s estate.
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