As part of its commitment to safeguarding the long-term sustainability of York’s leisure facilities, GLL – the charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op that operates four Better leisure centres in the city, has installed solar panels at Yearsley Swimming Pool.
The improvements to install the new 182kWh solar array at the iconic 116 year‑ ‑old Yearsley Pool were fully funded by the North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Mayoral Renewables Fund. The fund supports public-sector renewable energy projects, such as solar PV installations on community buildings to drive decarbonisation, lower energy bills, and advance progress to net-zero targets.
Despite several challenges—including the site’s location within a conservation area and the seasonal constraints of winter installation—the solar array was completed and went live in February. It is already generating significant energy savings for the much loved community facility.
The system is projected to deliver:
- £23,000 in annual financial savings
- 29 tonnes of CO₂ emissions saved each year
The improvements will cut carbon emissions, increasing on-site renewable energy use to lower energy bills and reduce dependence on the national grid.
The solar array has been deliberately oversized to accommodate future decarbonisation plans. Yearsley Pool is currently heated by gas, having transitioned from its previous heat source -steam – supplied by the neighbouring Rowntree’s Chocolate Factory. The new renewable infrastructure will enable the pool to benefit from low carbon heating options as future upgrades are delivered.
Paul Bickle, GLL’s York Partnership Manager, explained: “This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations work in genuine partnership. By securing this funding with the support of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and our local authority colleagues, we’ve been able to take a major step toward reducing both our environmental impact and our operating costs.
“With rising energy prices placing real pressure on community facilities, the savings generated by this solar installation are significant and will help protect the future of Yearsley Pool for the people of York. We will continue to seek opportunities and funding that support long-term sustainability and keep essential community services thriving.”
Cllr Pete Kilbane, Executive Member with responsibility for Leisure at City of York Council, said: “Yearsley Pool is a great and much-loved community resource. Pools are expensive but vital to support our residents’ health and wellbeing. The addition of solar panels will help bring those costs down. Initiatives like this from GLL is one of the reasons why York has been able to keep swimming pools open while other Councils have been forced to shut theirs down.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member with responsibility for Environment at City of York Council, added: “This is a great way to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions and make Yearsley Pool more sustainable in every sense of the word. We are proud that this project has been made possible by several teams working together across the Council, the combined authority and GLL, to achieve lasting community benefit.”
