Controversial proposals to heat a public swimming pool using waste heat captured from a neighbouring crematorium have been approved by Redditch councillors.

Today’s vote by the full council means work on the link diverting waste heat into the Abbey Leisure Centre will begin in the summer. It is expected to save the local authority more than £14,000 a year by reducing energy bills and will also result in carbon savings.

However, the plans have proved controversial, with trade union Unison branding the idea “insulting and insensitive”.

Council leader Carol Gandy admitted the plans touched on a sensitive area, but that 90 per cent of responses to the council’s consultation exercise had been positive.

“Many respondents have in fact praised the council for being so innovative and for being willing to discuss the idea openly,” she said, adding that the practice was common in Sweden. “We already support our residents to insulate their homes and be energy efficient, so it seemed only right for us to explore this re-use of energy.”

Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, praised the council for pioneering the scheme, which he said could be replicated across the country.

“It is understandably a sensitive issue, but this is an innovative plan which could prove to be of national significance,” he said. “With high energy prices and the need to reduce carbon emissions, it is vital we make use of waste heat wherever possible.”

He added that public sector buildings were likely to sit at the centre of future district heating projects as they can provide the certainty of demand that allows operators to make the best use of waste heat.