A range of green improvements are on the way for Alcombe Children’s Centre thanks to Somerset Council and government grants.

It is estimated the revamp of the building in Minehead will deliver carbon savings of nearly twelve tonnes per year, contributing to the Council’s commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable county in line with its Climate Emergency actions.

The project is being made possible with £250k from the Council’s successful bid to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
The centre is home to a range of services including Cheeky Cherubs Nursery, The Minehead Shed community group, Public Health Nurses, and Home-start West Somerset.

Works, which are due to start in January 2024 and are expected to last 13 weeks, will include replacing the gas heating system with electric Air Source Heat Pumps, LED lighting, and roof solar panels.

The centre will remain open throughout with any disruption to services being carried out outside of operational hours unless agreed otherwise with the Council and building operators.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix Finance.

Councillor Ros Wyke, Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, said:

Alcombe Children’s Centre is an essential hub for many community groups and needs essential works to keep it fit for purpose and safe. With the help of the public sector decarbonisation funding, rather than replace old systems with like for like, we can transform it to be an energy-efficient, sustainable comfortable community space for those who need it now and future generations to come.

Councillor Dixie Darch, Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change said:

This project is a fitting example of combining necessary maintenance to our buildings with energy-saving improvements that align with our Climate Strategy and help reduce our carbon footprint. The work at Alcombe Children’s Centre is part of a council-wide decarbonisation programme to achieve a greener more sustainable Somerset.

Salix Finance Client Support Officer Caterina Bartelloni said:

We are delighted to be able to support Somerset Council on the journey to net zero. This is an ambitious project, and the result will be more efficient energy use as well as producing more comfortable areas for the community’s children.