Mitcheldean Community Centre - Case Study
We are delighted to share this guest post about a range of energy-saving improvements to a local community centre.
When you run a community centre as a charity, there is always the concern that the overhead costs will not be met by the income from renting. A few years ago, the trustees at Mitcheldean Community Centre decided that we would have to increase our hire charges to cover the ever-rising gas, electric and water bills. This was something we were not happy about, as it would impact our regular users who may decide to go elsewhere, so we needed a different plan.
Towards the end of 2023 we made the decision to make the centre ‘the greenest and most energy efficient community centre in the Forest of Dean’, but how would we achieve this?
We had already made a start back in 2022, and we learnt and researched better options. Initially, this was obtaining a water meter, replacing some of the faulty double glazing and replacing the old gas boiler with a much more energy-efficient combi model. Gaining momentum, all the lights were changed to more efficient LED’s and PIR sensors (Passive Infra Red - motion detectors) were put in many of the lighting areas, including our outside security lighting. We improved insulation in our storage area and installed a heat recovery ventilation fan in the kitchen. The introduction of an app-controlled heating system with different zones meant that heating could be switched on and off in separate rooms remotely, in line with centre usage at particular times.
Finally, we decided on the biggest improvement, focusing on a further reduction in our electricity costs. We investigated using 24 PV Solar panels with dual battery storage and the potential to sell surplus electricity back to National Grid. A win-win solution, but not a cheap one.
We took advice from the Climate Team at the Forest of Dean District Council, and started to ask for quotes from both local companies and national ones. There was a big variation in costs; however, Solar Bureau was finally selected.
Now aware of the costs involved, the search for a grant provider began. There are many out there. Enovert* seemed the most hopeful and fitted our needs. We were successful in obtaining 90% of the money required for the complete project, which included building a secure room around the electrical equipment.
The process, once Enovert* agreed to give us the grant, however, was painful! We jumped through hoops with the local planning department, being a 'commercial' property; nothing would have been required if it were a domestic one. This included full before and after plans being drawn, map location, local parish council checks and finally a biodiversity study. The National Grid moved the goalposts slightly on how much we could export per hour, but that was not viewed as a major issue. Once it was all agreed and signed off, the solar was finally installed in January 2026.
Why didn’t we go a step further with an air-source heat pump? The boiler was new and future-proof for many years; we had just renewed our long-term contract for gas supply, and the land around the centre is all owned by the Parish Council, so any external equipment would have to sit on their land. Finally, any external equipment could be subject to damage as we are on the football playing field, and vandalism also can’t be ruled out. We may reconsider in a few years’ time, though. Still more projects to do!
Melvyn Wilkins, Trustee - Mitcheldean & District Community Association.
Do contact Melvyn directly if you would like to know more:
melvynmca@gmail.com
"Great guest post! Lots of learning for community buildings across the Forest of Dean District. These community venues are so important for rural communities, important places for communities to come together, reducing social isolation and providing a space for a whole host of activities from youth clubs, to yoga classes, and everything in between. These sorts of upgrades are keeping the lights on, building resilience, and making these hubs fit for the future. Good work."
*Enovert’s Hempsted landfill site is situated 9 miles from the community centre. The grants are part of the Enovert Community Trust funding, which is an Environmental Trust set up in 2003 under the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).
