Lib Dems welcome planned expansion of solar canopies at Beverley Leisure Centre

Plans for a further rollout of renewable energy infrastructure are moving forward in the East Riding, with proposals submitted to install additional solar carports at Beverley Leisure Centre.



​The East Riding Liberal Democrats have welcomed the initiative, highlighting the dual benefits of reducing carbon emissions and securing long-term financial savings for the local authority.

​The new proposal follows the successful installation of a solar canopy at the leisure facility earlier in the summer. Under the fresh plans, a second canopy would be installed  over existing car park bays, maximising the available surface area to generate clean electricity.
​This latest phase builds upon a wider regional £900,000 sustainability scheme partially backed by a GBP 350,000 grant from Great British Energy.  The broader initiative, which encompasses council-owned leisure centres in Beverley, Bridlington, Hornsea, Driffield, and Pocklington, is projected to save the council approximately GBP 100,000 annually on electricity bills.
*Solar canopy at Driffield. 

​Altogether, the initial installations are anticipated to generate 430,650 kW of electricity per year alongside battery storage, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 426 tonnes over a 25-year period. The initial phase carried a total cost of GBP 900,000.

​Welcoming the progression of the scheme, Councillor Phil Redshaw, East Riding Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson, emphasised the importance of prioritising brownfield spaces and existing infrastructure for renewable energy projects over greenfield sites:

​"Put solar on roofs, not our best farmland. The East Riding is already showing it can be done, with panels recently going onto schools, leisure centres and council buildings. We should use our roofs and car parks before sacrificing our countryside."

​The East Riding Liberal Democrats stated that the continued expansion of solar canopies at Beverley Leisure Centre further demonstrates how East Riding of Yorkshire Council can successfully cut carbon emissions and save public money simultaneously, pledging to continue championing pragmatic, green investments that protect local agricultural land.

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