§1 · Scope & commercial

Contracted scope of work

Leisure Energy is engaged by South Kesteven District Council to produce a Salix-eligible Heat Decarbonisation Plan and supporting PSDS Phase 4 application bundle for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. Funded by the Phase 4 Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund.
Client
South Kesteven District Council
Site
Grantham Meres Leisure Centre, NG31 7XQ
Funding source
Phase 4 Low Carbon Skills Fund (Salix) · Award #LCSF24-0118
Engagement value
£42,800 ex VAT · paid via LCSF · no cost to SKDC
Start date
14 March 2026
HDP submission deadline
28 August 2026
Scope of work (per LCSF engagement letter §3)
(a) Produce a complete Heat Decarbonisation Plan compliant with Salix Phase 4 LCSF Guidance (Mar 2023); (b) Conduct on-site survey · plant inventory · baseline data analysis; (c) Specify and cost low-carbon heating solution including options appraisal; (d) Produce supporting documents for a Phase 4 PSDS application (where the HDP recommends grant-eligible measures); (e) Sign-off & final report to client governance.
Out of scope
PSDS application portal submission (client-led); construction or delivery (separate procurement); post-installation M&V (separate engagement under PSDS delivery contract if appointed).
§2 · Deliverables manifest

Documents produced under this engagement

All deliverables are versioned and held in the engagement folder. Final versions are signed by the lead consultant before being released to the client.
19 of 23 complete
DeliverableTypeStatusOwnerUpdated
grantham-meres-hdp-v1.0.pdf
Heat Decarbonisation Plan · 28 pages · Salix LCSF compliant
 Primary deliverable Final JH 18 May 2026
psds-p4-application-bundle-v1.0.pdf
PSDS Phase 4 application pack · 52 pages · for client portal submission
 Primary deliverable Final JH 18 May 2026
site-baseline-analysis-v1.2.xlsx
12-month HH metered data + DEC + baseline tariff analysis
 Working model Final SR 02 May 2026
options-appraisal-matrix-v1.1.xlsx
Scoring of 6 low-carbon heating options with weighted criteria
 Working model Final JH 22 Apr 2026
energy-saving-calcs-unlocked-v1.0.xlsx
Per-measure savings calculation in unlocked Excel · per Phase 4 §4.3.8
 Grant evidence Final JH 14 May 2026
grant-carbon-cost-calculator-v1.0.xlsx
Salix-format carbon cost calc · £323/tCO₂e LT
 Grant evidence Final JH 14 May 2026
risk-register-v1.0.xlsx
8-item project risk register · severity × likelihood scoring
 Grant evidence Final JH + KM 14 May 2026
feasibility-study-v1.0.pdf
RIBA Stage 2 feasibility · system sizing · DNO confirmation
 Technical case Final KM 30 Apr 2026
site-survey-report-v1.0.pdf
On-site survey 22 Mar 2026 · plant inventory · thermal imaging · 47 photos
 Technical evidence Final KM 04 Apr 2026
boiler-nameplate-evidence-pack.zip
High-res nameplate photos + service reports · Phase 4 §4.2.1 evidence
 Grant evidence Final KM 04 Apr 2026
dno-correspondence-v1.0.pdf
National Grid / NPg pre-application capacity discussion
 Technical evidence Awaiting DNO surgery KM 16 May 2026
counter-fraud-declaration.pdf
To be signed by SKDC S151 officer · per Phase 4 §4.1.2
 Grant evidence With client for signature Client —
… 11 more working documents (data extracts, schematics, supplementary tools)
§3 · Site fit assessment

Why this site qualifies for the Net Zero Pod®

Internal LE assessment criteria for whether our packaged R744 solution is appropriate. Recorded for engagement audit trail — the consultant's reasoning made visible.
CriterionThresholdThis siteScoreNotes
Wet leisure profile Pool present · DHW dominant 25m main pool + learner Pool heating + DHW is ~73% of site demand
End-of-life fossil plant Boilers ≥10 yrs at decommission 17–19 yrs (Hoval 2009 + 2011) Strong PSDS eligibility case
DNO capacity available ≥525 kVA for pod + ancillaries Indicative 525 kVA · awaiting confirmation Fallback design at 425 kW pre-approved
External space available ≥40 m² external footprint clear of public area Yes · S24-2106 planning approved Apr 2025 Planning de-risked at engagement start
Grant carbon cost competitiveness <£510/tCO₂e LT cap £323/tCO₂e LT projected Top tier likely
Operator alignment Engaged operator + utility-paying landlord 1Life op contract · SKDC pays utilities No subsidy control complication
Consultant conclusion: 6/6 fit criteria met. Net Zero Pod® specified as the technical recommendation. JH · 14 Apr 2026
§4 · Options appraisal

Low-carbon heating options considered & discounted

Per Phase 4 PSDS Guidance §4.2.3 — applicants must provide an options appraisal showing all viable low-carbon heating options were assessed. Six options scored against weighted technical, commercial, deliverability and carbon criteria.
Option Technical fit (30%) Whole-life cost (25%) Deliverability (20%) Carbon (25%) Total score Outcome
District heat network connection 2 / 105 / 103 / 109 / 10 4.6 / 10 Reject No local network · >3km to nearest planned
Ground-source heat pump (GSHP) 5 / 104 / 102 / 108 / 10 4.6 / 10 Reject Clay subsoil · aquifer protection zone
Biomass 4 / 106 / 105 / 105 / 10 5.0 / 10 Reject Urban air-quality · supply chain risk
Electric boiler (no heat pump) 7 / 102 / 109 / 106 / 10 5.6 / 10 Reject Lifetime cost prohibitive · would breach £510 cap
Conventional site-built ASHP cascade (R32) 8 / 106 / 105 / 107 / 10 6.5 / 10 Reserve Viable fallback if Net Zero Pod factory slot unavailable
LE Net Zero Pod® (R744 CO₂) 10 / 109 / 109 / 109 / 10 9.3 / 10 Selected Highest total score · pre-commissioned · fastest deploy
Conflict of interest disclosure: the Net Zero Pod® is a Leisure Energy product. Scoring criteria, weightings and source data are documented in options-appraisal-matrix-v1.1.xlsx. Independent peer review of the scoring is included in the engagement file (Lockie Energy, 16 Apr 2026).
§5 · Decision audit log

Working trail of consultant decisions

Chronological record of every material decision made during the engagement. Used for client transparency, internal QA, and Salix audit if required.
14 Mar 2026
JH · KM
Decision Engagement scope confirmed at inception meeting

Confirmed scope: LCSF-funded HDP + PSDS application support. Out-of-scope: portal submission (client-led), delivery contract (separate procurement). SKDC's S151 (T. Halliwell) confirmed engagement letter terms.

22 Mar 2026
KM (site)
Evidence On-site survey completed

Full plant inventory captured. Boiler nameplates photographed (Hoval UltraGas 575D × 2, commissioned 2009 + 2011). Thermal imaging of pool hall roof beams identified two thermal-bridge points. AHU VSDs found running fixed at 40 Hz with no modulation. Filed: site-survey-report-v1.0.pdf

02 Apr 2026
SR
Evidence 12-month HH metered data secured from t-mac and Stark

Gas: 2,799,021 kWh CY2024 · Elec: 245,057 kWh CY2024. Data coverage 98.5%; 2 days missing (Aug 12–14, site closed). Tariffs locked Apr 2023–Mar 2026. Filed: site-baseline-analysis-v1.2.xlsx

14 Apr 2026
JH
Decision Site fit assessment scored 6/6 for Net Zero Pod®

All technical and commercial fit criteria met. Recommendation to proceed with Net Zero Pod as technical specification, subject to options-appraisal validation. Recorded conflict-of-interest disclosure (pod is LE product).

16 Apr 2026
External · Lockie Energy
Evidence Independent peer-review of options-appraisal scoring

External technical peer review by Lockie Energy confirmed the scoring matrix, weightings, and discount rationale for non-pod options. No material adjustments. Filed: peer-review-lockie-v1.0.pdf

22 Apr 2026
JH
Decision Net Zero Pod® selected · 550 kW · R744

Following options appraisal (Pod score 9.3/10 vs site-built cascade 6.5/10), Net Zero Pod specified as the technical recommendation. Pod factory slot booked at LE Technology Centre, Kidderminster for Q4 2027 build.

02 May 2026
JH
Assumption Pool depth assumed at 1.8m mean

Pool tank construction drawings unavailable. Mean depth assumed from typical 25m 6-lane competition + learner profile. Used for heat-loss and volume modelling. Flagged for surveyor verification on next site visit.

14 May 2026
JH
Recommendation HDP recommends PSDS Phase 4 application

Grant carbon cost calculated at £323/tCO₂e LT — well within £510 cap. Application projected to fall in top tier (top 30%). HDP and PSDS application bundle prepared. Self-funded microfiltration excluded from grant submission to keep tier-1 placement.

18 May 2026
JH
Decision HDP v1.0 issued for SKDC governance sign-off

Final HDP and PSDS application bundle released to T. Halliwell (SKDC Property) for Cabinet papers. Counter-fraud declaration sent for S151 signature. Engagement entering final close-out.

§6 · Methodology & assumptions

Calculation methodology & key assumptions used

Required disclosure per LE standard engagement terms and Phase 4 PSDS Guidance Notes (which state: "All energy saving calculations in this proposal are based on engineering calculations with assumed rather than measured variables"). All assumptions are documented and reviewable.

Heat-loss calculations

Steady-state heat-loss method per CIBSE Guide A. U-values derived from on-site fabric survey + 1989-era construction archetype where not directly verifiable.

Source: CIBSE Guide A · TM46

Carbon factors

DESNZ Greenhouse Gas Reporting Conversion Factors 2024: Gas 0.18290 kgCO₂/kWh · Grid electricity 0.20705 kgCO₂/kWh.

Source: gov.uk · refreshed annually

Heat-pump performance

sCOP target 4.64 based on LE Net Zero Pod® factory-rated performance at this site's duty profile (UK climate · pool DHW + space heating cascade).

Source: LE Pod Datasheet · cross-checked against Biddulph Valley installation data

Pool evaporation rate

Calculated using Smith-Lof-Tichy method with on-site measured air temp + RH. Pool surface area from S24-2106 site plans; mean depth assumed at 1.8m (unverified).

Source: ASHRAE Handbook · Pool industry standard

Grant carbon cost

Per Phase 4 PSDS Guidance §2.2.1: Grant value requested ÷ direct lifetime tCO₂e saved by grant-funded measures.

Source: Salix Phase 4 PSDS Guidance Notes (Jul 2024)

Future grid trajectory

Linear decline from 0.207 (2024) to 0.030 (2050) kgCO₂/kWh per DESNZ central scenario. Used for 20-year payback projections.

Source: DESNZ central decarbonisation scenario
§7 · Fee disclosure

Engagement commercials & conflict-of-interest disclosure

Transparent fee breakdown per the LCSF engagement terms. This engagement is paid by Salix · no cost falls on SKDC for the assessment phase.
Site survey + plant inventory 2-day on-site visit · 1 senior, 1 surveyor
£3,800
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
Baseline data analysis + tariff modelling 12-month HH data ingest + analysis
£4,200
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
Options appraisal + technical specification 6 options scored · pod sizing · system design
£8,600
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
Heat Decarbonisation Plan document 28-page Salix-compliant HDP
£9,400
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
PSDS Phase 4 application bundle preparation 52-page application + all supporting evidence
£12,200
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
External peer review (Lockie Energy) Independent technical validation
£2,400
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
Project management + client engagement 2 days/month · 5 months · governance support
£2,200
LCSF Award #LCSF24-0118
Total engagement value
£42,800
100% LCSF · 0% to SKDC
Conflict-of-interest declaration. The Net Zero Pod® is a Leisure Energy product. Should SKDC's PSDS Phase 4 application be successful, LE may be invited to tender for delivery (estimated capital value £2.34M, separate procurement). The options-appraisal in §4 includes external peer review (Lockie Energy) to mitigate the perception of bias. SKDC is not contractually obliged to procure LE for delivery, and remains free to tender openly via the UK Leisure Framework or alternative routes.
§8 · Sign-off & preparer

Prepared by

Jamie Harris
Lead Consultant · CEng MEI · Leisure Energy
287–291 Banbury Road · Oxford · OX2 7JQ
"I confirm the analyses, calculations and recommendations in this engagement have been prepared in accordance with LE's engagement terms, CIBSE good practice, and Phase 4 PSDS Guidance. Assumptions are documented; conflicts of interest are disclosed."
Signed · J.Harris · 19 May 2026

Independent peer review

Dr. R. Lockie
Director · Lockie Energy Consultants
Manchester · CIBSE Low Carbon Consultant
"I have reviewed the options-appraisal scoring matrix and the grant carbon cost calculation in this engagement. The methodology is sound and the conclusions are defensible against Phase 4 PSDS criteria."
Signed · R.Lockie · 17 May 2026