Brent Cross Town heat network gets approval for London’s first large scale, all-electric energy centre
Planning permission has been granted for London’s first large scale, all-electric energy centre at Brent Cross Town, signalling a landmark moment in the capital’s journey to becoming net zero.
Related Argent and Barnet Council have partnered with Vattenfall to develop the Main Energy Centre at Brent Cross Town, a new park town in north London, which at 180 acres is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects. Brent Cross Town was awarded over £14m from the Government’s Green Heat Network Fund to help bring forward the project.
Once complete, the centre will be one of the largest of its kind in the UK, connecting 6,700 homes as well as over three million square feet of offices, retail and leisure space to a pioneering heat network that will put community wellbeing at the forefront of the town’s commitment to becoming net zero.
The implementation of a large, shared system will remove the need for residents and businesses to install and maintain individual boilers and air conditioning units. Instead, they will benefit from reliable comfort all year round, while reducing carbon emissions and saving on running costs.
The all-electric energy centre will efficiently capture and store heat energy from the environment using heat pumps. Heat created during cooling will be recycled to warm Brent Cross Town buildings, while thermal stores will capture energy when electricity is cheapest and store it for later use.
The first phase of construction is due to begin later this year, delivering heat, hot water and cooling to customers in 2027. The centre will be fully complete in 2032.
“This is a significant moment in London’s journey to becoming net zero and we are proud to be delivering a town that will meet the needs of future generations of Londoners. Critical infrastructure, like the main energy centre, is an integral consideration when designing new towns and developments and must not be delivered in isolation. We need to see more private and public partnerships working together to deliver sustainable, innovative solutions which can unlock future economic growth and housing provision.”
“The impressive Main Energy Centre and vast heat network planned at Brent Cross Town is fundamental to our plans to develop a net zero carbon neighbourhood helping to cut emissions and create a sustainable environment. The approved designs are industry leading and will bring one of the largest fully electric main energy centres in Europe to Barnet.”