Leisure centres with pools are receiving a boost thanks to a £63 million cash injection from the government.

As part of this year's Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced he will be providing funding to help revamp facilities at more than 800 venues.

He said: “Soaring bills are hitting us all hard, and community pools have been thrown in the deep end.

"I know they are loved by millions of people. This vital lifeline will keep them afloat.”

More than £40 million of the fund will be made available for investment in decarbonisation and long-term energy efficiency, while £20 million is also being made available to cover immediate pressures including operational and maintenance costs, and energy bills.

To receive the cash injection local authorities must apply for the funding, which will be awarded following a bidding process.

The news comes as Maidstone Leisure Centre recently lost out on a much-needed refurbishment after councillors were unable to agree on a permanent solution.

The council has been debating what to do with the 50-year-old building at Mote Park for the past five years as it has become a money pit, described by one councillor as "the most polluting building in Maidstone”.

There was talk of the building being closed on heath and safety grounds in the near future. Ideas discussed included a major refurbishment estimated to cost £30 million or more minor improvements which would cost £2 million – the chosen option.

Last month the centre came under fire after it emerged lots of the facilities, including flumes, slides and the wave machine, were regularly closed to visitors due to lifeguard shortages.

Some leisure centres have already got the green light for expensive works.

Cascades Leisure Centre in Thong Lane, Gravesend has just had plans to create a £34 million new facility approved.

It will include a 25m pool, 17m learner pool, an aqua play and water flume area, poolside steam and sauna, spectator viewing area, sports hall with six courts and tiered seating, multi-level soft play zone, 'clip n climb' zone, party and community rooms and cafe.

Outside facilities would include a children’s play area, an active play area, an outdoor gym and trim trail, as well as a tennis and netball court. On the first floor, there will be two squash courts, two multi-use studios, a spin bike studio and a 100-station fitness suite.

White Oak Leisure Centre, in Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, just celebrated the one-year anniversary of its new leisure centre which was built with £20 million funding.

The money was used to bulldoze the previous facility which was built in the 1960s and replace it with a 25m six lane pool, 100-station gym and fitness suite, two exercise studios, cycling studio, and a sports hall. Other features include TAGactive, a brand new interactive gaming activity, and a 140 space car park and coach drop-off point.

In 2021 The Stour Centre in Station Approach, Ashford opened its doors after being closed for one year for a £7.5 million revamp, which included an expansion of the gym, new studios and a new multi-storey soft play area.

Last September, Tenterden Leisure Centre, in Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden, reopened after a year in which it saw a completely new roof installed alongside a refreshed interior at a cost of almost £2 million.

While Farifield Pool in Lowfield Street, Dartford benefited from a £12 million cash boost nearly 10 years ago which saw the run-down building replaced by a modern easily accessible facility which including a 110-station gym, new studios and a new cafe.

The payout comes as it is revealed that leisure centres, many of which were built in the last century, are responsible for up to 40% of local authority carbon footprints due to the need for the pools to be heated to safe temperatures.

Huw Edwards, chief executive of ukactive said: “We welcome the announcement of this package of financial support that will help those parts of the sector most exposed to the increase in energy prices.

"We will now support the government and Sport England to channel this financial package to those facilities most at need, helping to retain services and keep facilities open."

Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, said: "We are now stepping in to safeguard our nation's public swimming pools, providing them with support for a sustainable future that will help ensure that generations to come can take the plunge."

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chairman of the Culture, Tourism and Sport Board at Local Government Association, which represents councils, said: “We are pleased the government has recognised the importance of our public pools to the nation’s health, our communities, and the safety of our children.

“Councils and pool operators have worked hard to keep them open for as long as possible in the face of rising energy costs but have been warning that without investment we would have seen a large number of closures. This funding will enable us to keep doors open, and also continue the transformation of our pools to an energy efficient future that offers a lasting legacy for communities.

“We look forward to working with the government and Sport England to ensure support reaches all those in need”