District Heating Expansion To Slash Southwark’s Carbon Footprint
16 June 2023
The start of work to expand Southwark’s low carbon heat network has moved forward after a public consultation approved a Local Development Order (LDO). The significant move signals Southwark Council’s ongoing commitment to tackling the climate emergency and its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral borough by 2030.
The LDO permits the construction of an underground network of 7km of insulated pipes to carry heat from the South-East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) facility in South Bermondsey to properties around Old Kent Road and Peckham to provide heating and hot water. Southwark is the first authority in London to introduce a LDO.
The SELCHP facility currently provides 2,650 homes in Bermondsey with energy generated from the waste & recycling centre, saving 7,700 tonnes of carbon annually. This provides a low-carbon alternative to the gas-fired boilers still used to heat most properties in Southwark.
The expansion will add 3,000 additional properties to the network including council homes, schools and businesses and reduce emissions from heating and hot water by up to 90% on the estates connected. The network will support sustainable growth along Old Kent Road and deliver an additional saving of 11,100 tonnes of carbon each year. Working with Veolia, £16 million in funding has been secured for this vital infrastructure.
Now approved, the LDO will enable the council to manage the impact of the extension - ensuring heritage, archaeology, trees, and ecology are all protected. It will also minimise the impact of construction, including the impact on traffic, through the implementation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan. Efforts will also be made to ensure the works are compatible with future plans for the Bakerloo Line Extension.
Extending the network will benefit the new homes being built in the Old Kent Road area and also enables the council to retrofit existing homes with low-carbon heating in place of gas boilers.
Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: “At a time when the UK’s supply of gas is more expensive and less reliable than ever, the extension of Southwark’s low carbon heating network is a vital move. By expanding our district heating scheme, we are reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and embracing cleaner, more efficient energy resources. This network extension not only ensures affordable and reliable heating for our residents but also demonstrates our dedication to creating a sustainable future for our residents”.
Page last updated: 16 June 2023
