Askern Leisure Centre – Decarbonization, Retrofit and Refurbishment

Leisure centers are some of the most energy intensive assets in any local authority estate. City of Doncaster Council had an additional challenge with Askern Leisure Centre – it was a coal-fired 1960s building and was the last coal fired heated swimming pool in England, in need of comprehensive refurbishment and was struggling with viability.

Energy audits across the council’s leisure estate were undertaken in preparation for a cohesive decarbonization strategy at Askern Leisure Centre. A major programme of retrofit and refurbishment works followed. These centered on a whole building approach to move the aging facility towards net zero, addressing both the thermal efficiency of the building's fabric and its MEP installations.

AtkinsRéalis was appointed to provide multidisciplinary services during phase 1 and 2, the leisure center project’s refurbishment.

City of Doncaster Council had been successful with a PSDS bid, and the resulting Salix administered funding required the project to be undertaken in two phases to meet expenditure deadlines. Phase 1 was completed at pace, with upgrades to the building’s fabric envelope and M&E services undertaken by the design & build contractor.

Phase 2 involved the internal refurbishment, and here the council was keen to improve control around the design and implementation. Our team was appointed to provide design, contract administration, project management and cost management services.

Embarking on a project at its midway point can be challenging but we developed an excellent relationship with the retained contractor Equans and worked together to transition the project to phase 2.

We began with a rigorous review of the phase 1 work using our knowledge as contract administrator and retained the same team as it was essential to mitigate the risk of design clashes between the two phases. At the same time, we undertook careful monitoring of the project budget, considering the phase 1 expenditure.

We also created project risk and design risk registers to address and avoid further design clashes, ensuring the project could seamlessly flow in to phase 2.

Another early task was the creation of a RIBA Stage 3 design package for the design & build contractor to develop. This was reinforced by our building surveying team’s extensive knowledge of existing buildings and current design standards. At each design stage, opportunities to reduce carbon emissions were identified. We reviewed the contractor’s detailed designs to ensure they met carbon reduction requirements, and we then monitored the quality of installations on site.

Our team effectively guided City of Doncaster Council and Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust through the design and construction process, ensuring that their requirements aligned with a cost-effective, compliant internal refurbishment that met community needs and was realistic within the building’s constraints, whilst meeting net zero and Sport England design criteria.

Our stringent ongoing cost management meant the facility was delivered within budget and can now be operated cost-effectively for years to come.

Improvements include upgraded building fabric to reduce heat loss and energy consumption; replacement of windows and doors; re-covered and better insulated flat roofs and cladding, and new air handling systems. MEP installations were comprehensively replaced, including replacement of the coal-fired boilers with electric air source heat pumps. Materials were selected to provide longevity and to reduce future maintenance requirements.

The decarbonization endeavor moves the facility towards net zero. Emissions were previously 343.1 tCO² per annum and are now expected to be 44.3 tCO². Operational costs are reduced, and this successful approach can now be replicated in the council’s leisure estate. The project is of national importance too, as its sustainable design and performance will inform Sport England Design Standards for both newly built and refurbished sports facilities.

The project’s success is a testament to teamwork, problem solving and resilience in response to the multiple challenges presented by an old, deteriorating building.

The biggest wins are the social value and health gains. One of Doncaster Council’s key objectives is to improve local service provision to support health, social and cultural wellbeing, in this area where incomes are lower, and unemployment and physical inactivity are higher than national averages. The center makes a critical contribution to a more active borough, reducing health inequalities and bringing lasting benefits.

This project has won in the Net Zero category at Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber 2023 awards.