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03/03/2010
Southampton expands its sustainable heating network
A groundbreaking event has marked Southampton’s award-winning District Energy Scheme – the largest scheme of its kind in the country - being connected to a huge new development which is being built in the city.
The event, held next to the civic Centre, marked the laying of the district heating mains to the City Centre Gantry development – which is being built by Atlantic Housing (a member of the First Wessex Group) with help from Drew Smith Ltd and will deliver 115 residential flats, all of which will be affordable housing for the city.
The scheme, developed in partnership between Southampton City Council and Utilicom, recently helped the city to gain Green Flag status from the Audit Commission – one of the few in the country to scoop the accolade for its green credentials. And the move to connect the scheme to this development, providing sustainable energy to the new homes, will be a huge step forward in boosting the city’s growing reputation as one of the most sustainable city’s in the South.
The current scheme already saves the city more than 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Expanding the scheme to provide energy to the Gantry development will save a further 190 tonnes of CO2 a year, and will cut the costs of residents’ energy bills by about 10%.
The council successfully led a joint bid with Utilicom to get £650,000 of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency to allow this expansion to happen.
Councillor Matthew Dean, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “This is a massive milestone in the city’s goal to grow our District Heating Scheme and provide sustainable energy to more businesses and homes. Southampton has been pioneers in this field for a long time now.
We set the example and lead for others to follow and I am determined to keep moving this energy scheme forward, Simon Woodward, Utilicom Group, chief executive said: “We are delighted to be working closely with the City Council, the HCA and First Wessex on this exciting project for the benefit of the City’s residents.
The excellent track record of the energy partnership between the City Council and Utilicom in successfully developing these complex schemes over 23 years, was a key factor in the award of these valuable grant monies by the HCA.”
In addition, Kevin Bourner, head of area at the HCA, said: “Our support for this groundbreaking scheme will help provide more low carbon energy for Southampton’s new homes.
But as well as saving tonnes of CO2 every year, residents will also see savings in their bills. We are committed to working with our partners in the city to create highly sustainable and affordable places for the community to live and work.”
The connection project forms part of the Low Carbon Infrastructure (LCI) Fund announced by housing minister John Healey. The fund is aimed at meeting tougher guidelines associated with the building of all new homes, including a move to zero carbon by 2016.
The event, held next to the civic Centre, marked the laying of the district heating mains to the City Centre Gantry development – which is being built by Atlantic Housing (a member of the First Wessex Group) with help from Drew Smith Ltd and will deliver 115 residential flats, all of which will be affordable housing for the city.
The scheme, developed in partnership between Southampton City Council and Utilicom, recently helped the city to gain Green Flag status from the Audit Commission – one of the few in the country to scoop the accolade for its green credentials. And the move to connect the scheme to this development, providing sustainable energy to the new homes, will be a huge step forward in boosting the city’s growing reputation as one of the most sustainable city’s in the South.
The current scheme already saves the city more than 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Expanding the scheme to provide energy to the Gantry development will save a further 190 tonnes of CO2 a year, and will cut the costs of residents’ energy bills by about 10%.
The council successfully led a joint bid with Utilicom to get £650,000 of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency to allow this expansion to happen.
Councillor Matthew Dean, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “This is a massive milestone in the city’s goal to grow our District Heating Scheme and provide sustainable energy to more businesses and homes. Southampton has been pioneers in this field for a long time now.
We set the example and lead for others to follow and I am determined to keep moving this energy scheme forward, Simon Woodward, Utilicom Group, chief executive said: “We are delighted to be working closely with the City Council, the HCA and First Wessex on this exciting project for the benefit of the City’s residents.
The excellent track record of the energy partnership between the City Council and Utilicom in successfully developing these complex schemes over 23 years, was a key factor in the award of these valuable grant monies by the HCA.”
In addition, Kevin Bourner, head of area at the HCA, said: “Our support for this groundbreaking scheme will help provide more low carbon energy for Southampton’s new homes.
But as well as saving tonnes of CO2 every year, residents will also see savings in their bills. We are committed to working with our partners in the city to create highly sustainable and affordable places for the community to live and work.”
The connection project forms part of the Low Carbon Infrastructure (LCI) Fund announced by housing minister John Healey. The fund is aimed at meeting tougher guidelines associated with the building of all new homes, including a move to zero carbon by 2016.
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