Community investors raise £160,000 for Lichfield Leisure Centre solar project

Community investors contributed £132,200, with the amount topped up by a further £27,800 from a Community Booster Fund.

The successful raise received support from existing Staffordshire Community Energy members, alongside many new investors from the Lichfield area and across Staffordshire.

The funding supports the solar panel installation at Lichfield Leisure Centre, which is already generating cleaner, cost-effective electricity for the facility.

Neil O’Brien, Chair of Staffordshire Community Energy, said:

“I am delighted with the successful fundraise for Lichfield Leisure Centre. I would like to give a huge vote of thanks to all the team who helped get this project through planning, preparation and build.

“We look forward to the solar panels providing green, cost-effective energy for decades to come. We thank our members, both new and longstanding, for their confidence in and support for our plans.”

Staffordshire Community Energy has thanked everyone who invested in the project and helped promote the share offer.

The organisation said the response demonstrated the strength of local support for community-owned renewable energy projects that provide both environmental and community benefits.

The project reflects Staffordshire Community Energy’s Power with Purpose approach: using community investment to deliver cleaner energy, reduce costs and create lasting benefits within Staffordshire.