Altrincham residents will soon have access to Trafford's most sustainable sports facility, as the newly transformed move Altrincham prepares for its phased reopening from Tuesday 26 August.
The £20 million revamp has created a leisure centre that will be the first in the borough to be powered by large air source heat pumps and solar panels.
The innovative heating system represents a major departure from traditional gas central heating, with the facility set to save over 400 tonnes of carbon annually. All remaining electricity will be sourced from 100% renewable suppliers.
Advanced building management systems will monitor and control pumps, motors and other equipment to maximise efficiency throughout the facility.
Over the lifetime of the heat pumps and solar panels, the centre is expected to prevent more than 8,000 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere.
The transformation has been made possible through substantial funding, with over £2 million secured from Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Swimmers will benefit from two fully refurbished pools featuring cutting-edge microfiltration systems that deliver cleaner water while reducing operational costs and water consumption.
The centre will also champion active travel with a dedicated hub funded by the Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, offering secure bicycle storage and electric vehicle charging points in the car park. These facilities will connect seamlessly with the area's growing Active Travel network.
The move Altrincham project is part of Trafford Council's broader strategy to tackle climate change through its leisure facilities, which currently account for 11% of the authority's carbon footprint. Similar sustainable upgrades are planned for Partington's leisure centre.
Councillor Aidan Williams, Trafford Council's Executive Member for Climate Change, said: "Move Altrincham is a great example of how we're setting new standards in Trafford that will help the Council achieve its zero carbon goals and send a powerful message to our communities that we treat climate change seriously and are working hard to create a greener, cleaner future."
The redevelopment programme has taken a year longer than originally envisaged because, Trafford Council said, of "the challenges of transforming the 50-year-old building".
The revamp had started in January 2023 and was originally scheduled to take just 18 months, having been given the green light by councillors in July 2022.
The new centre will include a 25m swimming pool, 20m learner pool, pool pod to improve accessibility, combined lobby area with pool viewing, wet changing village and inclusive facilities such as a Changing Places toilet for people with profound disabilities, a first for the town centre.
There will also be a wellness assessment room, enlarged fitness suite, two flexible studio spaces, an immersive indoor cycle studio, four-court sports hall and a gymnastics hub.
