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 net zero.
The new park town in North London is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, at 180 acres.
Its Main Energy Centre scheme has been awarded over £14m from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund to bring the project to life.
The Centre – one of the largest in the UK – will connect 6,700 homes, plus 3m sq ft of offices, retail and leisure space, to an innovative heat network.
The large, shared system will remove the need for individual boilers and air conditioning units.
Residents and businesses will benefit from reliable comfort all year round, while reducing carbon emissions and saving on running costs.
The all-electric energy centre will capture and store heat energy from the environment using heat pumps. Heat created during cooling will be recycled to warm town buildings, while thermal stores will capture energy when electricity is cheapest and store it for later use.
The build will start delivering heat, hot water and cooling to customers in 2027, and the Centre will be fully complete in 2032.
At full capacity, it will deliver 30 MW of heating and 20 MW of cooling.
Property developer Related Argent and Barnet Council have partnered with Swedish energy company Vattenfall on the project.
Morwenna Hall, Executive Director and COO of Related Argent said: “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.”
Alina Gheorghiu-Currie, Director of Vattenfall – London, added: “This energy centre will make everyday life better for thousands of people, while also showing how growth in London can be achieved without compromising sustainability.”
Barnet councillor Alan Schneiderman said: “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.”
Ken Hunnisett, for the Green Heat Network Fund, said: “The project is a shining example of how heat networks will decarbonise densely populated areas across the country.
“We’re delighted to be delivering the financial stimulus that will see them fulfil their potential as a cornerstone of the UK’s energy transition.”
