Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has announced it was named a leader in energy management software by independent industry analyst firm Verdantix in its Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023�report. “Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global emissions and new levels of efficiency and sustainability can
300,000 sq ft of high-quality warehouse space across six units ready for occupation The prime Leeds Valley Park speculative industrial development, which strategically fronts the M1 and M621 motorways, has reached practical completion with units now ready for occupation. The scheme, delivered by Caddick Developments and funded by Greater Manchester
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has announced the appointment of Mark Hand as the Director of Wales, Northern Ireland, and Planning Aid England. Hand, who is currently Head of Service for the Physical Regeneration, Highways, Flooding, Planning and Building Control services at Monmouthshire County Council, brings over 20 years
The latest research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has shown that the property market could be in for a strong end to the year, as the number of homes completing in December has sat 6% higher than the average monthly total for the year over the last decade. However,
SteelTrace, is pleased to announce a significant achievement in collaboration with Subsea7. This partnership marks a milestone as SteelTrace embarks on its first pipeline project in the North Sea, reinforcing its commitment to increasing efficiency and quality standards while meeting the digital needs of the operator. SteelTrace is a pioneering
SP Energy Networks has partnered with interpreting service, SignLive, to give customers the option to have their conversations translated into British Sign Language (BSL) for free. This collaboration will ensure that customers who are hard of hearing or have speech impairments can connect with the SP Energy Networks customer service
Contractor Clegg Construction has held a topping out ceremony at an 11-storey apartment complex being built for property developer Rise Homes in Leeds. Spinners Yard is a 185-apartment, U-shaped, build-to-rent scheme in Regent Street in the Mabgate area of Leeds City Centre. It is the second build-to-rent project Clegg Construction
The final part of almost £100 million-worth of development projects is now open to the University of Plymouth’s students, staff and visitors. Weighing in at £63 million, the revamped and dramatically extended Babbage Building is now home to the engineers and designers of tomorrow. And the next phase of the
Last week, housebuilding SMEs were invited to a Future Homes Hub (FHH) event, hosted by leading housebuilder Redrow, at its Stone Hill Meadow development. Leaders from across the industry gathered at the site, which was the first to launch since Redrow committed to install Air Source Heat Pumps across all
Hundreds more households will soon enjoy more affordable, reliable, and lower carbon heating with three tower blocks set to become the latest to connect to the city’s flagship Leeds PIPES district heating network. 259 council properties in Lovell Park Heights, Lovell Park Grange, and Lovell Park Towers will be set
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has announced it was named a leader in energy management software by independent industry analyst firm Verdantix in its Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023�report. “Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global emissions and new levels of efficiency and sustainability can only be achieved through digitalisation,” said Johnson Controls Chief Technology Officer Vijay Sankaran. “Recognition as a leader in the Energy Management Software industry speaks volumes about our work and solutions that continue to create the spaces and places that improve well-being, achieve climate goals and save money.” This Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023 report provides a detailed, fact-based comparison of the most prominent energy management software (EMS) vendors evaluated on their innovation and product strategy and customer satisfaction through product demonstrations, vendor responses and interviews. Through its analysis, Verdantix found a dramatic improvement of energy management capabilities in Johnson Controls’ offerings since evaluations in 2015 and 2018. Through the launch of OpenBlue and a targeted acquisition strategy to bolster and deepen capabilities, Johnson Controls has enriched its offering with additional energy and sustainability management features. Johnson Controls received high scores relative to fifteen leading EMS vendors both in capabilities (e.g., breadth and depth of functionality) and momentum (e.g., customer adoption, strategy investment). OpenBlue is rated higher than other EMS software providers for capabilities including autonomous operations and control, energy monitoring and reporting and innovation and product strategy. “As a Green Quadrant Leader in Energy Management Software, Johnson Controls has established itself as a leader in the energy management space and is helping customers unlock energy efficiencies, achieve sustainability goals, and harness digital insights,” said Harry Wilson, Industry Analyst, Verdantix. “We found the company’s offerings are transitioning from those of a traditional building technology manufacturer, to those of a software solutions provider with a deeper focus on equipment integration and control capabilities.” Already recognised as a leader in the Green Quadrant: IOT Platforms for Smart Buildings 2022, the cornerstone of the Johnson Controls energy management offering is OpenBlue, an industry-leading ecosystem of connected technologies, expertise and services. OpenBlue Enterprise Manager (OBEM) is a suite of software solutions that form a comprehensive building performance management platform to power a new class of smart buildings that are secure, healthy and sustainable. Combining data from across the building’s systems and utility bills, and using advanced digital experiences augmented with AI, OBEM provides actionable insights and controls that save more energy and reduce more emissions than possible with isolated systems. It also helps customers in simplifying carbon disclosure reporting and regulatory compliance with building performance standards. With deployments across the globe spanning commercial office spaces, healthcare, education, campuses and more, OBEM enables real-time data visibility across assets, people and processes, empowering customers to drive intelligent and proactive operations from a single pane of glass. To learn more about how Johnson Controls OpenBlue is transforming smart buildings, please visit: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/OpenBlue. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
300,000 sq ft of high-quality warehouse space across six units ready for occupation The prime Leeds Valley Park speculative industrial development, which strategically fronts the M1 and M621 motorways, has reached practical completion with units now ready for occupation. The scheme, delivered by Caddick Developments and funded by Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), comprises 300,000 sq ft of high quality warehouse space across six units, ranging between 25,000 and 70,000 sq ft. CBRE, Carter Towler and Avison Young are marketing the urban logistics scheme on behalf of GMPF. Situated in a prominent position fronting the M621 and M1 motorways, the development is a short drive from J7 of the M621 and J44 of the M1 and is ideally placed to benefit from the transport infrastructure and connectivity to the city. The high spec units comprise haunch heights from 8m – 12m with a mix of ground level and dock loading doors, secured gated service yards and include high quality first floor offices and amenity services. The scheme boasts ESG credentials including EPC Target A and BREEAM Target Very Good ratings with an air source heat pump, LED lighting and EV charging points on site. Danielle Raunjak, Associate Director, CBRE Leeds team commented: “The Leeds Valley Park scheme is set to become a key strategic logistics site for the city and sector. The development benefits from being close to major motorways linking the north, south, east and west and will also provide major local employment opportunities. “There continues to be a healthy level of demand for well-connected, mid-box developments and Leeds Valley Park will hugely contribute to the growth and success of the industrial and logistics market of Leeds and West Yorkshire.” Kevin Etchells, Head of Real Assets, Greater Manchester Pension Fund commented: “Leeds Valley Park is a best-in-class scheme with high ESG credentials which offer an attractive proposition for occupiers looking to prioritise sustainability and future-proof their operations. The development delivers much needed warehouse space for the continued growth and success of the West Yorkshire market and economy. We look forward to welcoming tenants over the coming months.” Rob Oliver, Principal, Avison Young, commented: “We have been delighted with the interest shown to date in the scheme, both from occupiers already based in Leeds and the surrounding area, and from inward investors looking to establish a new West Yorkshire operation. It’s fantastic to have achieved practical completion on target, with the units presenting very well, and to be able to offer immediate occupation to companies.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has announced the appointment of Mark Hand as the Director of Wales, Northern Ireland, and Planning Aid England. Hand, who is currently Head of Service for the Physical Regeneration, Highways, Flooding, Planning and Building Control services at Monmouthshire County Council, brings over 20 years of experience working in the public sector in Wales as well as 7 years of experience with the planning system in Northern Ireland. In his current role as Head of Service at Monmouthshire County Council, Hand has responsibility for planning, building control, regeneration, highways, and flooding. In Northern Ireland, Hand worked with the Department for Infrastructure to review planning performance indicators, looking at best practices across the UK nations, and more recently has been working with Derry City and Strabane District Council to review the implications of the Northern Ireland Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee reports on the planning service. In recent years, Hand has been Chair of the Planning Officers’ Society Wales, an external examiner for Cardiff University’s planning course, and sat on the RTPI’s General Assembly. He previously worked at Newport City Council where he led the delivery of numerous large-scale regeneration projects. Hand will be taking up the position from Wales, where he currently resides with his partner, cat and dog. Hand will replace Roisin Willmott, who is leaving the role to take up a new position of One Planet Manager at Cardiff Council, working on the Council’s net zero ambitions. Willmott, who has been with the Institute since September 2007, started as National Director of Wales, extending to Northern Ireland in 2012, and then taking on responsibility for Planning Aid England in 2018. While working at the RTPI Willmott has helped influence national policies and built up the services offered to members in Wales and Northern Ireland. Speaking on his appointment, Mark Hand said, “I am delighted to be appointed as RTPI Director of Wales, Northern Ireland and Planning Aid England. Roisin has done a fantastic job and I hope to build on her achievements. “Planners have a central role to play in tackling the huge issues of the climate and nature emergencies, housing crisis and infrastructure delivery. This needs some brave decisions and collaborative working, drawing on the strengths and contributions of planners from all sectors. I look forward to working together with all built environment professionals throughout Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as supporting our vital network of Planning Aid England volunteers.” Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI said: “Mark’s impressive track record of delivering for the public sector comes at a critical time for the planning sector across Wales and Northern Ireland. We’re delighted that Mark is joining the team at this exciting time.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has shown that the property market could be in for a strong end to the year, as the number of homes completing in December has sat 6% higher than the average monthly total for the year over the last decade. However, don’t expect to receive a new home from Father Christmas, with sales completing on Christmas Day accounting for a minute proportion of market activity. GetAgent analysed the monthly number of properties sold in each month of the year over the last decade, as well as just how many homebuyers received a new home for Christmas last year due to completing on the 25th December. The research shows that while Christmas is often considered a traditionally quiet time of the year for the property market due to buyers and sellers putting their plans on hold until the new year, this certainly doesn’t mean there will be a dip in the number of transactions completing. In fact, over the last 10 years, an average of 83,616 property sales have completed on a monthly basis each and every month. However, when looking specifically at the month of December, this climbs to an average of 88.673 – a 6% increase. What’s more, in no less than 7 of the last 10 years, the number of transactions completing has actually increased between November and December. But while December remains a relatively busy time of the year for home sellers and buyers, the chances of finding a new home under the tree on Christmas Day are slim. GetAgent analysed sold price data from the Land Registry and found that, last year, just 6 sales completed between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. This equates to 0.001% of the 810,450 homes to have sold across England and Wales in 2022. Three of these sales completed on Christmas Eve, one Boxing Day and just two on Christmas Day itself. Co-founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “Christmas is often considered a bit of a lull period for the property market and this is true in some respects. There’s almost certainly a reduction in the number of motivated buyers and sellers pushing ahead to agree a sale, as plans are put on hold until after the festive break. At the same time, many progressing sales will see a slight delay due to the reduced office hours and staff numbers of estate agents, solicitors and other required parties. However, for those approaching the home selling and buying finish line, December is business as usual, and market activity has actually sat above the monthly average benchmark over the last decade during the month of December. Just don’t expect Santa to leave the keys to your new home under the tree, as sales completing between the 24th and 26th December account for an incredibly small proportion of the annual total.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SteelTrace, is pleased to announce a significant achievement in collaboration with Subsea7. This partnership marks a milestone as SteelTrace embarks on its first pipeline project in the North Sea, reinforcing its commitment to increasing efficiency and quality standards while meeting the digital needs of the operator. SteelTrace is a pioneering quality management automation platform that revolutionises transparency, traceability, and efficiency in the steel supply chain. Focusing its efforts in the chemical and petrochemical industry using state-of-the-art technologies including blockchain and cloud computing to seamlessly integrate quality management throughout the entire steel supply chain – from cradle to grave. By offering an end-to-end solution that ensures transparency and accuracy, SteelTrace enables manufacturers, suppliers, and stakeholders to maintain complete confidence in the quality of steel products needed for demanding applications in the oil and gas industry. Testament to its relationship with Subsea7, this is the second project the companies have collaborated on. This collaboration will see SteelTrace capturing vital structured data from manufacturers and automatically cross-referencing it against project requirements. This advanced functionality eliminates the need for any manual reviews, streamlining the process and reducing the possibility of human errors. Converting this data into a digital manufacturing record book, promises increased efficiency and a streamlined workflow. Ultimately benefiting the entire supply chain including the operator, who can use the collected data for the life extension studies, root cause analyses and turnaround simulations. In these challenging sea environments, steel pipes must be able to withstand harsh conditions and stringent safety standards. The complexities of seabed dynamics and the need for precise welding require an increased level of quality control and precision. SteelTrace’s comprehensive data capture ensures that all crucial information is meticulously recorded, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual data review, and providing the industry with a reliable and efficient alternative. SteelTrace’s CEO and Founder, Tom Meulendijks, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “As SteelTrace continues to push the boundaries of quality assurance and digital transformation within the steel industry, we are excited to secure our second project with Subsea7. Since our establishment in 2017, SteelTrace has developed a global client portfolio spanning Europe, the US, South East Asia, and upcoming ventures extending to Australia.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SP Energy Networks has partnered with interpreting service, SignLive, to give customers the option to have their conversations translated into British Sign Language (BSL) for free. This collaboration will ensure that customers who are hard of hearing or have speech impairments can connect with the SP Energy Networks customer service team for support via a qualified BSL interpreter. Using a Video Relay Service (VRS), BSL users can make video calls via their tablet, smartphone, computer or laptop and a professional BSL interpreter will provide two-way translation to a member of the customer service team, with text option also available on the video call. SP Energy Networks’ new partnership with SignLive comes as recent findings revealed that there are 11 million people who are deaf or hard of hearing and over 150,000 BSL users in the UK . This initiative will make the process of calling the customer service team easier and more interactive for many of those people. The SignLive service will remove barriers to communication for SP Energy Network’s customers, making services such as its Priority Services Register (PSR) more accessible than ever before. The PSR offers a wide range of support for customers who have special communication needs, are over the age of 60, have children under the age of 5, have a chronic illness or mobility issues. This includes proactive engagement if there’s a known power outage in the local area and providing access to a dedicated welfare number during periods of storms. The introduction of the SignLive service will ensure BSL users are able to access support they are entitled to with ease, something which is particularly crucial during the winter months. Kendal Morris, Customer Service Director at SP Energy Networks said: “We are committed to making our services accessible to everyone and our partnership with SignLive marks a significant step forward towards this. “SignLive has created an amazing solution for our customers who use British Sign Language or are hard of hearing, allowing them to engage in direct conversations with our team without relying on friends or family members. “Customers can now get in contact in a way that is easy and convenient for them and be reassured they are supported in the event of a power cut.” SignLive, founded in 2014 by Joel Kellhofer, has consistently aimed to eliminate communication barriers and enhance the quality of life for the deaf community through the highest quality interpreting services and technology. Fiona Mackay, Chief Operating Officer at SignLive said: “We’re so pleased to be working with SP Energy Networks and commend them for becoming more accessible to Deaf customers. This partnership will make communication simpler and easier for BSL users giving customers a way to get in touch at the tap of a button.” For more information about SP Energy Networks and its SignLive services, visit: spenergynetworks.co.uk
Contractor Clegg Construction has held a topping out ceremony at an 11-storey apartment complex being built for property developer Rise Homes in Leeds. Spinners Yard is a 185-apartment, U-shaped, build-to-rent scheme in Regent Street in the Mabgate area of Leeds City Centre. It is the second build-to-rent project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with Rise Homes and follows the recent completion of The Ironworks – a £28.7m, 11-storey apartment development in Sheffield. Featuring a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, Spinners Yard is due to be completed in 2025. Clegg Construction operations director, Darren Chapman, said: “We are very pleased to have reached the key topping out stage for this development. This will allow us to continue adding the external walls and glazing up the building, followed by the internal fit-out. “Spinners Yard is regenerating brownfield land and will breathe new life into the area, providing a desirable residential development with a range of properties to rent.” The ground floor of Spinners Yard will incorporate a plant room, enclosed parking for cars, motor bikes and cycles to one half with the other containing the entrance lobby and reception, the centre management office, a lounge, break out and work spaces, and a gym. Two staircases/lift areas provide access to upper residential floors. The first floor will incorporate a residents’ garden space with another spacious roof garden on the tenth floor. Once completed, the development will feed into the Leeds PIPES District Heat Network. Nigel Rawlings, CEO of Rise Homes, added: “We are delighted with Clegg’s progress at Spinner’s Yard and we are very much looking forward to the completion of this sustainable development linked to the Leeds City energy from waste plant offering high-quality, spacious apartments at both affordable and market rents featuring many other environmental benefits.” During construction work on the Spinners Yard site, Clegg Construction has been hosting groups of Leeds College of Building Trade and Management students, aged 16 to 19, to provide them with valuable insight into the sector. The students have also been visiting the site next door, where Clegg Construction is building The Fabric Works, a 402-bed student accommodation scheme. In addition, Clegg Construction is sponsoring a local Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army) squadron in Leeds by providing T-shirts worn as part of the uniform and during physical training, and is currently collecting food, toiletries and other items for the Blessed of the Father Food Bank, part of Leeds Food Aid Network, at its Spinners Yard and The Fabric Works sites. The company is very familiar with Leeds, having delivered the external recladding of the Premier Inn Leeds City Centre Arena hotel in 2021, the replacement of flammable cladding on the high-rise Waterside Apartments development during the same year, and the design and build of the Premier Inn Leeds Headingly Hotel (constructed on top of the Arndale shopping centre) in 2017. More recently, Clegg Construction started working on a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in the city. Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialties across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The final part of almost £100 million-worth of development projects is now open to the University of Plymouth’s students, staff and visitors. Weighing in at £63 million, the revamped and dramatically extended Babbage Building is now home to the engineers and designers of tomorrow. And the next phase of the University’s Campus Masterplan is now in progress, with two further projects on track to be delivered by 2025. Vice Chancellor, Professor Judith Petts CBE says: “I am immensely proud that – at a time when many universities in the UK and internationally face significant fiscal difficulties – the University of Plymouth remains in robust financial health and continues to invest in sustainably improving its estate. “Babbage is yet another amazing building that will deliver our future success, by supporting engineering and design students as well as our leading research. It not only enhances our city centre campus, delivers a better student experience and delivers on our ambitions to reduce our University’s impact on the environment, but also continues our efforts to improve Plymouth’s built environment.” Babbage first opened to students of the future at the University’s open event on Saturday 18 November, ahead of welcoming current students plus staff two days later. Formal opening events are being planned for 2024, but the Vice Chancellor and the University’s Director of Estates and Facilities, Trevor Wills met with colleagues from BAM construction for a celebratory key handover this week (Wednesday 6 December 2024). Trevor says: “Babbage has been a challenging project to deliver – especially alongside InterCity Place. I wouldn’t recommend running two major redevelopment projects concurrently, but the pay-off is more than worth it and I have been lucky to work with amazing teams, both in-house at the University and through our contractors. “This building is a very attractive improvement to our urban campus and the interior has a marvellous sense of scale. “Now that Babbage is open for business, there’s a deep personal joy in seeing people using the space and finding something new every time I go in there, plus the feedback from students and colleagues is immensely positive.” While the main construction works are complete, specialist facilities and laboratories are still coming on stream, and a small team from BAM remains on site for some finishing touches. BAM’s regional director Tim Chell says: “We are delighted to be handing over the hugely impressive Babbage Building. It’s great to see that efforts of the whole team at BAM and the University of Plymouth have been rewarded, and that this facility will enhance the experience of all who use it. Well done to all involved.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Last week, housebuilding SMEs were invited to a Future Homes Hub (FHH) event, hosted by leading housebuilder Redrow, at its Stone Hill Meadow development. Leaders from across the industry gathered at the site, which was the first to launch since Redrow committed to install Air Source Heat Pumps across all its new, upcoming developments. Stone Hill Meadow is a prime example of Redrow’s eco-electric homes with underfloor heating and other energy efficient features fitted as standard. The Future Homes Hub has been focusing on driving greater collaboration to support successful delivery of the Future Homes Standard alongside other priorities in meeting the sector’s climate and environmental goals such as water efficiency improvements, biodiversity net gain and improving sustainability metrics. The event was organised by the FHH Implementation Board, which is Co-Chaired by Redrow CEO Matthew Pratt, as part of the collaboration efforts and to promote knowledge sharing within the industry ahead of the Future Homes Standard being implemented in 2025. Matthew Pratt, CEO of Redrow and Co-Chair of the FHS Implementation Board, said: “SMEs are a vital part of the industry transition to new, low carbon forms of energy. Having started out as a small business ourselves, nurturing new SME’s and offering a helping hand will always be at the heart of our culture. As housebuilders, we must work together to offer customers the best homes possible, that are fit for the future and for the planet. Redrow will continue collaborating and sharing knowledge to achieve these goals, through more events as well as online tools and webinars.” MD of Carr & Carr (Builders) Ltd and National President of the Federation of Master Builders commented: “These events are so important for SMEs like us who don’t have the technical departments, facilities and expertise of volume housebuilders. Redrow’s willingness to open their doors, collaborate and share learnings within the industry, when it comes to sustainability, energy efficiency and the implementation of the Future Homes Standard, will be pivotal in facilitating a level playing field for SMEs like us, as we move towards the 2025 goals.” Ed Lockhart, CEO of the Future Homes Hub, said: “Visiting Redrow’s Stone Hill Meadow development provided a very engaging way, particularly for SMEs who attended, to understand some of their learnings since launching heat pumps as standard across their business. By launching at scale, well ahead of the Future Homes Standard implementation deadline, they’ve been able to collate an enormous amount of learnings across the technical, design, supply chain and commercial aspects of the net zero transition. We know that sharing these learnings with SMEs is absolutely vital, and we’ll be encouraging other housebuilders to do the same, as well as implementing more tools to make these learnings accessible to everyone within the industry.” The Future Homes Standard 2025 (FHS) represents a significant and early milestone in England’s pathway to net zero, with substantial implications for how new homes are built. Successful implementation is therefore critical both for the homebuilding sector and more widely government and society. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hundreds more households will soon enjoy more affordable, reliable, and lower carbon heating with three tower blocks set to become the latest to connect to the city’s flagship Leeds PIPES district heating network. 259 council properties in Lovell Park Heights, Lovell Park Grange, and Lovell Park Towers will be set up to receive heat from the network within the next six months. Private leaseholders of properties in the Little London tower blocks will also be able to benefit from the network if they opt to connect their homes to the system. Households that are benefiting from the upgrade can expect to see the cost of heating their home reduce using Leeds PIPES, compared to their existing heating systems, and will also enjoy better reliability and control. Meanwhile, Leeds Conservatoire (formerly Leeds College of Music) has become the thirteenth non-residential customer to have signed a contract to connect. The new connections are expected to reduce the city’s annual carbon footprint by 279 tonnes, supporting efforts to end the city’s contribution to climate change by transitioning to ‘net zero’ emissions. By using heat and energy recovered from non-recyclable waste at the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city, the Leeds PIPES district heating project is helping businesses and residents to move away from costly fossil-fuel powered heating systems. The council estimates that the network, delivered in partnership with Vital Energi, is helping existing customers to collectively save nearly half a million pounds (£490,000) in reduced energy costs this year alone. The £62 million network continues to expand and is regularly connecting to new buildings. Leonardo & Thoresby student accommodation buildings and St James’s Hospital are the latest buildings to have begun taking heat from the scheme. Leeds City Council is currently in discussions with dozens of potential customers. Buildings and developments located near the underground pipes can choose to connect at any time and can register their interest on the Leeds PIPES website. Last year, the network of insulated underground pipes supplied 22,029 megawatt-hours of heating in total and helped reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 3,975 tonnes. Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Climate, Energy, Environment & Green Space and Councillor Jessica Lennox, Executive Member for Housing, said: “We are both delighted that hundreds more residents will soon be paying significantly less to heat their homes thanks to this latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES network. “Residents in the Lovell Park estate will join the thousands of council tenants and hundreds of private sector renters already benefiting. “Too many families in our city struggle to pay their energy bills—in part because the UK’s homes are some of the least efficient and most reliant on costly fossil fuel gas in Europe. “Whether it’s by connecting homes to affordable low carbon heating like Leeds PIPES, or investing in energy-saving measures like insulation, this council is committed to helping households by making our homes greener and fit for the future.” Mike Cooke, Vital Energi’s Managing Director (North and Scotland), said: “Leeds PIPES continues to be the UK’s landmark heat network and we’re delighted to announce these new connections, which means more people will benefit from low-carbon, cheaper heat to businesses and residents, making a real difference in their day-to-day lives. “We look forward to welcoming another 259 homes and Leeds Conservatoire to the fastest growing heat network and will work closely with the council to ensure they have the best possible customer experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
