Green Issues

Work to deliver a groundbreaking district heating scheme for two major new developments in East Devon is now close to becoming a reality, thanks to the collaborative efforts of developers and local authority partners.

Full planning permission has been issued for a £20 million Energy Centre located on site of Skypark, a £210 million business park development.

This follows the agreement last year between Skypark’s joint venture partners, regeneration specialist St Modwen and Devon County Council, and the developers of a nearby prototype Eco-town called Cranbrook that the energy centre would be located within Skypark’s boundary as part of a district heating scheme that would also serve Cranbrook.

The Energy Centre will act as a hub serving a network of hot water pipes carrying heat to both developments and will generate electricity direct to the national grid.

Ian Guy, senior development manager for St Modwen, said: “This scheme is vital to the reduction of carbon emissions across both the Skypark and Cranbrook developments. It is enabling both developments to reach much higher standards of sustainability than would otherwise be possible.”

A biomass district heating scheme, for example, serving the first 2,900 homes at Cranbrook could provide an estimated 10,000 tonnes of C02 savings a year.

William Mumford, Devon County Council cabinet member for economic regeneration and strategic planning, added: “We are determined that Devon’s economy will emerge stronger from the recession and Skypark is a key element of that. Not only will Skypark provide the cornerstone for future economic growth in the area, creating thousands of new jobs, but it can also become a leading example of a low carbon development.”

www.exeterandeastdevon.gov.uk

More information about New Growth Points and Partnership for Growth with the Government can be found here.