The Government’s Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) has awarded £14 million of construction and commercialisation funding for Brent Cross Town’s heat network, supporting the project to become net zero carbon by 2030.
Brent Cross Town is being developed as a joint venture between Related Argent and Barnet Council with 6,700 new homes, workspace for 25,000 people, a new high street, three schools, extensive sport and leisure facilities, and 50 acres of green space – all supported by the recently opened Brent Cross West mainline station.
Low carbon heat will be generated through a fully electric energy centre and supplied to all residential, and commercial and leisure buildings. The network, enabled by GHNF funding, will meet the town’s demand of 30MW of heat and 20MW of cooling peak capacities. Alongside providing affordable low carbon heat, the project is expected to create 121 new long-term jobs whilst supporting a range of new apprentices.
André Gibbs, Executive Director at Related Argent, said: “The Green Heat Network Fund allocated to Brent Cross Town will help make our ambition to achieve low carbon district heating across the whole of the development a reality. This will also include low carbon cooling to offices in the 25,000-workspace business and innovation district. When complete, Brent Cross Town will have one of the largest fully electric energy centres in Europe, developed in partnership with Vattenfall. This network points to the future of how the UK can provide clean energy to its towns and cities on the path to net zero.”
Alina Gheorghiu-Currie, Director of Heat Networks – London at Vattenfall Heat UK said: “We’re pleased to be working with Related Argent and Barnet Council to deliver low carbon heating, hot water and cooling to the Brent Cross Town community, supporting local jobs and apprenticeships.
“This much welcomed Green Heat Network Funding will enable the delivery of a low carbon heat network, supporting the overarching goal for Brent Cross Town to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, and Cricklewood Ward Member, Councillor Alan Schneiderman, commented: “Investing in green infrastructure and much needed employment and skills in the borough plays a vital role in tackling the climate emergency and the Green Heat Network Funding plays a key part in delivering our ambitious net zero carbon neighbourhood Brent Cross Town.”
