BROMSGROVE’S Artrix has been awarded a £615,000 grant from the Government to provide green energy upgrades and reduce its carbon footprint.
The building will be fitted out with renewable energy sources after the grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, a £1billion Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) scheme.
It is aimed at delivering ‘significant carbon savings’ and ‘stimulus to the energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation sectors, supporting jobs’.
The bid for the funds came after an energy report commissioned by Artrix owners the Artrix Holding Trust from Bromsgrove District Council.
The study showed upgrading the building with easily-installed air source heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting, along with an energy management system, could cut up to 128tonnes of carbon emissions a year. It would also cut the energy costs by up to £21,000, providing a firmer future financial footing for when it returned as an arts space.
It is currently being used as a Covid-19 vaccination hub with up to 2,500 people-a-day receiving their coronavirus jabs there.
To get the grant, the trust then teamed up with the district council to successfully bid to the Government for the money to make enhancements and a planning schedule is now being drawn up for the works.
Stuart Laverick, deputy chair of the Artrix Holding Trust, said: “We are over the moon that the application was successful.
“I’d like to thank the district council for its hard work on our behalf to secure this money from the decarbonisation fund.
“It will be a vital investment in modern upgrades to renewable energy systems that will boost energy efficiency and in so doing, cut both running costs and carbon.
“It’s a step change in the future sustainability of Artrix.”
Bromsgrove District Council leader, Coun Karen May, said: “We welcome this significant latest investment in decarbonisation.
“This council is committed to acting on climate change and making Bromsgrove a better and greener district, and it’s good to see the holding trust and council working together to secure funding for carbon-cutting upgrades that will benefit not only Artrix, but everyone.”
The funding bid is the latest part of ongoing efforts by the trust to secure a sustainable future for Artrix, after its former operator folded shortly after the start of Covid-19 restrictions.
