Holmen Iggesund is a premium paperboard manufacturer, which set up its factory off Siddick Road in 1963.

Cumberland Council approved the company’s sustainable proposals to build a 17,200 sq ft anaerobic digestion plant next to its existing mill at yesterday’s planning committee meeting. This decision was made in line with officer recommendations.

At the same meeting, Story Homes’ application to deliver 112 houses near Scotby did not share the same fate. A decision on the scheme was deferred, despite being primed for approval.

Holmen Iggesund will deliver the digestion plant in a vacant area within its current paperboard factory site to accompany the existing factory and storage buildings .

Energy will be generated in the form of steam in order to power the firm’s mill operations.

Tetra Tech submitted the plans on behalf of Holmen Iggesund. The project team also includes Paques, Bingham Yates, and Story Contracting.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number FUL/2023/0107 on Cumberland Council’s planning portal.

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Warringtonfire is a global fire testing, inspection, and certification service operating across 20 offices worldwide.

The firm has announced that it will relocate its fire resistance testing from its existing facility off Holmesfield Road in Warrington to the new test site at Birchwood Park. This move represents an almost 80% increase in size.

Project manager Arcadis and principal contractor Tilbury Douglas are already on site building the facility, which will see the creation of eight fire resistance testing furnaces.

There will be three horizontal and three vertical furnaces designed to evaluate the fire performance of different products or assemblies, as well as two indicative furnaces to provide a focused testing method to quantify the ability of a material or assembly to withstand exposure to high temperatures.

In terms of sustainability, plans include a number of measures to reduce energy use, maintain air quality, and minimise potential environmental impacts. These measures include built-in recycling systems, energy-efficient fans, and smoke and odour capture and treatment.

The £20m facility will house a 200-strong team, which will be one of the world’s largest teams of fire technical experts. Over 50 new jobs will be created, with a commitment to training and upskilling new and existing employees.

Warringtonfire’s existing facility off Holmesfield Road will continue to operate at full capacity while the new facility is under construction, before being partly converted to create a centre of excellence for reaction to fire testing.

TP Bennett Architects and Hoare Lea designed the project.

Jason Dodds, vice president of Warringtonfire, said: “Our new fire testing facility in Warrington is a major investment in the region and a statement of our ambition for the business…

“The new facility will significantly improve Warringtonfire’s testing offering for our customers, providing a faster and wider-ranging service, as well as expanded access to technical excellence delivered by the foremost experts in the fields of fire testing and certification”, he continued.

“It will solidify our position as the go-to partner for fire testing and related services and broaden our ability to serve customers across the value chain.

“Using best-in-class building design and new technology, we will also be able to greatly improve our environmental footprint, which is incredibly important to us as a company and is becoming increasingly important for our customers.”

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Cheshire West and Chester Council unanimously approved both schemes at its planning committee meeting on Thursday, in line with officer recommendations.

Ash Road

Application number: 22/03693/FUL

Encirc, which manufactures and distributes glass bottles, will build a 657,000 sq ft facility on the 50-acre plot previously occupied by four cooling towers.

Designed by AEW Architects, the scheme will deliver a 364,400 sq ft automated warehouse and more than 15,000 sq ft of office space, as well as a 150,000 sq ft dispatch area.

Plans will also see the creation of a monorail providing an automated link for transporting goods from Encirc’s existing warehouse to the new facility.

Encirc opened its Elton facility in 2005. Since then, its workforce has more than doubled from 400 to 900.

The new production line is planned as a joint initiative with Diageo, the alcoholic drinks maker. The line is due to be ultra-low carbon, using green electricity and hydrogen.

The facility is expected to start production in 2027, with a target of producing 200m bottles a year by 2030 for brands including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Gordon’s, and Tanqueray.

Encirc submitted the plans for the warehouse in February.

Lichfields is the planning consultant for the scheme. The project team also includes IDOM, I-Transport, The Environment Partnership, and WSP.

The scheme will be set across four fields. Credit: via planning documents

Bretton Hall Farm

Application number: 22/02042/FUL

New Energy Wales will deliver and operate the solar farm on a 60-acre plot off Chester Road.

The scheme, set across four agricultural fields, will have a capacity of 14 megawatts – enough to power 4,200 average UK homes.

Plans form part of a proposed 30-megawatt solar farm across a wider 124-acre site. The wider development would provide between 28,000 MWh and 30,000 MWh into the local grid annually, generating renewable energy for the equivalent of around 8,400 average UK homes.

The larger site sits on the boundary between Wales and England, with the northern area lying within the administrative boundary of Flintshire County Council. Therefore, a separate application was submitted to Flintshire County Council last month for the remaining 64-acre area and is awaiting consultation.

The scheme is one of 11 that has received a share of £75,000 from Ynni Cymru, a renewable energy company launched by the Welsh Government in August to help Wales reach its goal to have all its electricity provided by renewable sources by 2035.

The project team includes Corin Hughes, Mabbet & Associates, Land Research Associates, and Systra.

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The ACC Liverpool Group, operator of the M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, and the convention centre, is set to receive £1.4m from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix Finance.

The money from the Department for Energy, Security, and Net Zero has been awarded to Liverpool City Council as owners of the campus.

As a result of the funding, the organisation will replace the hot water boilers in the arena and convention centre with air-sourced heat pumps in order to reduce carbon emissions and maintenance costs. These plans are in line with the group’s goal to achieve net zero status by 2030.

Eddie dos Santos, director of operations and venue management at The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “Environment, sustainability, and climate action are key focuses for our Social Value Impact Plan, which we launched in 2021.

“We have already made significant progress across the campus with a number of initiatives and are striving to implement as many changes as we can to make events that we host as sustainable as possible for organisers and visitors.”

CorEnergy will carry out the project.

Tom Griffin, managing director of CorEnergy, said: “Having worked closely with The ACC Liverpool Group over the previous 12 months, CorEnergy is very pleased to continue our relationship with the organisation to support its journey towards Net Zero.

The project is a fantastic example of how a multi-technology approach involving LED lighting and controls and air-sourced heat pumps  can be used to drive material carbon savings and reduce energy costs.”

Simon Pettett, assistant director of programmes at Salix Finance, added: “Salix is delighted to be able to support this project and work with the city council on its decarbonisation journey and meeting the challenges around meeting net zero.

“This work should have a significant impact, reducing the carbon emissions, and making these buildings more comfortable buildings in which to work.”

This is not the first step that ACC Liverpool has taken towards sustainability and decarbonisation. The organisation recently installed LED lights across the waterfront campus and aims to support the development of super low carbon events and reduce single-use plastics.

In February, ACC Liverpool also became the first large-scale conference venue in the UK to join Isla, an independent industry body created to support the events sector’s transition to a net-zero future.

Liverpool City Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, said: “I’m delighted that The ACC Liverpool Group is taking decarbonisation extremely seriously and is making as many changes as possible to how it operates and functions.

“It’s a great example of how a business can reduce its carbon footprint whilst continuing to be successful.”

The ACC Liverpool Group owns the waterfront venues and is set to receive £1.4m from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix Finance.

As a result of the funding, the organisation will replace the hot water boilers in the arena and convention centre with air-sourced heat pumps in order to reduce carbon emissions and maintenance costs. These plans are in line with the council-owned group’s goal to achieve Net Zero status by 2030.

Eddie dos Santos, director of operations and venue management at The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “Environment, sustainability, and climate action are key focuses for our Social Value Impact Plan, which we launched in 2021.

“We have already made significant progress across the campus with a number of initiatives and are striving to implement as many changes as we can to make events that we host as sustainable as possible for organisers and visitors.”

CorEnergy will carry out the project.

Tom Griffin, managing director of CorEnergy, said: “Having worked closely with The ACC Liverpool Group over the previous 12 months, CorEnergy is very pleased to continue our relationship with the organisation to support its journey towards Net Zero.

The project is a fantastic example of how a multi-technology approach involving LED lighting and controls and air-sourced heat pumps  can be used to drive material carbon savings and reduce energy costs.”

Simon Pettett, assistant director of programmes at Salix Finance, added: “Salix is delighted to be able to support this project and work with the city council on its decarbonisation journey and meeting the challenges around meeting net zero.

“This work should have a significant impact, reducing the carbon emissions, and making these buildings more comfortable buildings in which to work.”

This is not the first step that ACC Liverpool has taken towards sustainability and decarbonisation. The organisation recently installed LED lights across the waterfront campus and aims to support the development of super low carbon events and reduce single-use plastics.

In February, ACC Liverpool also became the first large-scale conference venue in the UK to join Isla, an independent industry body created to support the events sector’s transition to a net-zero future.

Liverpool City Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, said: “I’m delighted that The ACC Liverpool Group is taking decarbonisation extremely seriously and is making as many changes as possible to how it operates and functions.

“It’s a great example of how a business can reduce its carbon footprint whilst continuing to be successful.”

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The Welsh government is currently advertising for the first nine positions at Ynni Cymru, with the idea that it will grow to 12 full-time staff shortly thereafter.

Ynni Cymru will be publicly owned and assist in giving local renewable energy projects a boost. Already £750,000 has been given out in its name to 11 different projects.

These include Ynni Ogwen’s proposal to install solar panels on community and business buildings in Dyffryn Ogwen and Ynni Twrog’s push to establish heat networks in Gwynedd.

Also on Ynni Cymru’s list of North West projects: Ynni Newydd Cyfyngedig’s solar farm at Bretton Hall in Flintshire – set to be one of the largest community-owned solar farms in the country.

Welsh climate change minister Julie James described the need for a company like Ynni Cymru.

“The current market-based approach to the energy system is not delivering decarbonisation at the scale or pace necessary for the climate emergency and has not been retaining sufficient benefit in Wales,” she said.

“Local use of locally generated energy is an effective way to support net-zero and keep the benefit in our communities,” she continued.

“Ynni Cymru will complement the great work already being undertaken by the Welsh Government Energy Service and Community Energy Wales, especially around scaling up and increasing the impact of renewable energy assets across Wales.
Ynni Cymru was born out of the Welsh government’s co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru.

Plaid Cymru designated member Siân Gwenllian described the energy company as “an ambitious project”.

“How we produce and consume energy is an essential part of achieving net zero and establishing Ynni Cymru is a key development in our ambitions,” she said.

“We also know that whoever owns energy assets is hugely important,” she continued.

“Ynni Cymru’s investment in expanding community-owned renewable energy generation will help decarbonise our energy supply with sustainable green energy and directly benefit people who live in those communities.”

Ynni Cymru’s new home, M-SParc, has positioned itself as a leader in innovations surrounding sustainability. The science park, run by Bangor University, received £2.5m for an expansion earlier this summer. 

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Plus Dane Housing is working in partnership with Mayor Steve Rotheram and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to invest around £10m into its retrofit programme.

Plus Dane will invest £5m of its own funds into the programme, as well as the £4.5m that the company has received from LCRCA. The combined authority secured this funding from the second wave of the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund in March.

Works will be carried out over the next two years to investigate a range of energy-saving solutions and retrofit a number of Plus Dane’s 18,000 properties across Merseyside and Cheshire.

Barry Callow, director of repairs at Plus Dane, said: “Funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is really making a difference to what we can achieve when looking to retrofit our homes, and we are grateful to the combined authority for helping us to do more with our money.

“Making our homes more energy efficient is a positive thing, not just as part of our obligation to meet net zero targets in the sector, but also for our customers who should see that they don’t need to use as much energy to keep their homes warm.”

This is not the first time that Plus Dane and LCRCA have worked together.

Last February, the combined authority awarded the housing association £1m from the first wave of its Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund allocation to oversee energy improvements to 100 homes.

These programmes form part of Rotheram’s plans to help 10,000 low-income homes to save money on their energy bills.

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Peel Natural Resources and Energy subsidiary Ener-Vate is leading on the district heat network, which will provide hot water and heat for the thousands of homes and 20m sq ft of mixed-use space planned for the 500-acre former dockland.

The reserved matters application, which has not yet been posted on Wirral Council’s planning portal, includes plans for a low-carbon energy centre and associated pipework.

“Sustainability and low carbon initiatives have always been at the heart of the regeneration of Wirral Waters, and this planning application aims to realise those ambitions through the introduction of a low carbon heating source which will provide connectivity to both existing and future occupiers,” said James Hadfield, strategic waters manager at Ener-Vate.

Funding for the Wirral Waters heat network comes, in part, from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.

Peel NRE has a similar district heat network across the Mersey in Liverpool. When work on constructing that network and its energy centre is complete, Peel NRE estimates the facility will save 4,200 tonnes of carbon a year.

Changing Stream’s Gareth Abraham, Peel L&P’s Richard Mawdsley, and Changing Stream’s Neal Maxwell have partnered together to reduce plastic waste at Wirral Waters. Credit: If We Ran the Zoo

Peel NRE parent, Peel L&P, is focusing on more than just low-carbon heating solutions. The developer has partnered with advocacy group Changing Streams CIC and the University of Liverpool to explore plastic-free alternatives in construction.

Peel’s 500-home Miller’s Quay is set to become ground zero for this research. Millers Quay topped out last month and will be filled with researchers for the next four months as they analyse ways to reduce the use of plastic.

“Miller’s Quay was designed to be at the forefront of sustainable regeneration and so it is fitting that it should also serve as a pilot for this new partnership,” said Richard Mawdsley, director of development at Wirral Waters.

“Over the last 12 months, the team have already worked together to identify the ‘hidden’ plastics within the specification and detailed design of the building and have established new tools that can help remove them on future projects,” he continued.

“We want to make Wirral Waters one of the most sustainable regeneration projects in the UK, and we cannot achieve this without tackling the issue of plastics in the construction process. Whilst this research is beginning at Miller’s Quay, Changing Streams is likely to be involved in other Wirral Waters developments, such as the Maritime Knowledge Hub.”

If methods of cutting back on plastic can be found, it could go a long way in reducing the country’s waste – currently, Changing Streams estimates that the construction sector is responsible for more than 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year in the UK.

“This partnership between Peel L&P, Changing Streams CIC, and the University of Liverpool is the first dedicated attempt to tackle this issue on a large, landmark scheme like Miller’s Quay,” said Gareth Abrahams, co-founder and head of building design research at Changing Streams. “ Our first project together will be an initial step in a long-term plan that will help position the Liverpool City Region as a thought leader and driver of change in the construction industry.”

Changing Streams and the University of Liverpool also partnered with Your Housing Group last year to design and build six prototype houses to see how plastic-free solutions worked in practice.

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Participants

• Craig Anderson, director of smart energy and sustainability at Hydrock
• Bec Bennett, assistant director of sustainability at the University of Salford
• Chris Bowie-Hill, director of innovation delivery at Hydrock
• Helen Cutts, head of sustainability at the University of Central Lancashire
• Alex Edwards, sustainability director at Bruntwood
• Heather Evans, national head of sustainability at Rider Levett Bucknall
• Sunny Johal, development director at Glenbrook
• Aleksandra Przydrozna, associate director at Mace
• Sheldon Walsh, partner at Ryder Architecture
• Chaired by Julia Hatmaker, editor of Place North West

Key talking points

There is no ignoring that if the UK is going to meet its net zero targets then the country needs to get serious about retrofit. While the need for improving existing estates is clearly evident, it can still be a hard sale for investors and portfolio holders.

This is where data comes in, according to roundtable participants who pointed out that if you take the time to measure and examine energy usage, space utilisation, backlog maintenance, fire safety compliance, etc. then retrofitting becomes the best-case scenario.

That data can also inform a decarbonisation strategy, pointing out where the problem spots are and helping you target those areas.

The discussion also focused on best practices for retrofitting. The necessity of having a clear brief was mentioned repeatedly. Having every team member on board with the project’s goals right from the very beginning can save time and, ultimately, money.

Appointing sustainability consultants and engineers early on in the design process was another top tip shared by the roundtable, while others highlighted the importance of fabric-first design.

All the participants agreed that sharing information on what worked and what didn’t work on a retrofit project would do a lot to helping the industry better enact decarbonisation strategies.

You can hear highlights from the roundtable in the video at the top of this article, as well as on the Place North West YouTube channel. Learn more about Hydrock at hydrock.com.

The post VIDEO | Best practice for decarbonising real estate portfolios appeared first on Place North West.

The sustainability improvements are part of the Department for Education’s £18.6m decarbonisation pilot.

Improving energy efficiency in schools and universities would aid the UK public sector in achieving its net zero carbon goals – with educational facilities representing 36% of total public sector building emissions, according to a Department for Education policy paper.

It would also help save money. That same paper stated that schools spent around £630m per year on energy in 2019 – a figure the department estimates to be much higher this year.

Accordingly, the DfE’s decarbonisation pilot programme has been rolled out to seven schools across the country. In the North West, the schools chosen are run by the North West Academies Trust.

The Department for Education utilised two Fusion21 frameworks for the project: the Merseyside-based company’s £750m decarbonisation framework and its heating & renewables framework.

The work to Calveley Primary Academy is valued at £1.8m, while the Acton CofE Primary Academy is valued at £2m.

GRAHAM is one of three companies to work on the decarbonisation pilot. The other two are Kensa Contracting and Dodd Group, which will be handling projects in Yorkshire and the South, respectively.

Fusion21 head of category Oliver Mooney commented: “It is fantastic to have been involved in such an important Department for Education project and to support the schools who used our framework to appoint the contractors for these transformational, multi-million-pound improvement works which will vastly improve the buildings, bring huge energy savings and carbon emission reductions and ensure pupils, teachers, and parents are playing an important role in decarbonisation and net zero ambitions”.

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South Liverpool Homes has joined JV North with plans to build 280 properties in Speke and Garston before 2027.

Formed in 2007, JV North is made up of 12 housing associations and local authorities working together to build social homes.

The consortium is currently building more than 4,500 homes across the North West as part of Homes England’s 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme, investing around £600m with £200m grant funding from the government body.

SLH will deliver the majority of its homes with an EPC A rating in order to reduce both carbon emissions and tenant fuel bills.

At the same time, SLH’s plans will also assist Liverpool City Council in its drive to achieve net-zero status by 2030.

Angela Perry, director of assets and development at SLH, said: “Having access to the consortium’s framework and applying for vital Homes England grants through JV North means we can accelerate our development programme further.

“It provides an opportunity to work closely with other consortium members to share knowledge, data, and intelligence, which is invaluable to us as we forge a brighter future for those in need of decent and affordable homes.”

In August 2021, JV North appointed contractors to its £560m framework, which provides a mix of contractors, architects, agents, designers, and engineers.

Consortium members include Bury Council, Johnnie Johnson Housing, One Manchester, Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, Muir Group, Plus Dane Housing, Sovini, Stockport Homes, Torus, Weaver Vale Housing Trust, and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.

John Bowker, chair of JV North and executive director of operations at Stockport Homes Group, said: “We are really pleased to welcome South Liverpool Homes and they will no doubt strengthen the consortium with valuable input at both board level and in our development group.

“In a challenging financial environment, being able to share knowledge and experiences with a greater number of peers operating in the same space provides benefits for all members.”

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Carlton’s push for a £750m battery energy storage system at Trafford Low Carbon Energy netted planning permission from the metropolitan borough council on Friday. Carlton’s BESS would be capable of storing up to 1GW of energy created through renewable methods.

BESS are key for mainstreaming renewable power, which is generated intermittently. By storing the power, the energy can be released steadily regardless of whether it is currently sunny or windy.

Carlton is in advanced talks with potential partners on the project. If funding can be secured, construction on the Trafford BESS could begin by in the first quarter of 2024. That would put the BESS as commercially operating by the end of 2025.

This is just one of several projects Carlton has at Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, the 30-acre former home of the Carrington coal-fired power station. Carlton acquired the site in 2008.

Carlton is also working on constructing a 200MW green hydrogen plant, which is set to be operational by the end of 2025. The Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme was shortlisted for £50m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Hydrogen Business Model.

Carlton is also working with energy company Highview Power on developing a cyrobattery plant, capable of storing excess energy for long-term use. The project, which was announced in 2020, would be capable of storing power for weeks, rather than hours or days like traditional BESS.

With the approval of BESS, the investment value of Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park is £2bn, according to Carlton chief executive and founder Keith Clarke.

“The investment in the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park over the next two-five years demonstrates Carlton’s long-term vision and commitment to re-energising the Trafford site,” he said.

Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, praised the planning department’s decision.

“The Trafford BESS, alongside the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, places Trafford and Greater Manchester at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition,” Ross said.

“The two schemes will help address our climate crisis – one of Trafford Council’s corporate priorities – and will support our region’s plan to reach a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038.”

Chris McKerrow, head of Carlton’s European BESS development, said he was “delighted” to have planning consent for the project.

“Our BESS scheme will make a significant contribution to the resilience of the North West’s energy system and, combined with our green hydrogen scheme and the cryobattery project, underlines Trafford Park’s importance to the energy transition in the region and the journey towards net zero,” McKerrow said.

Elsewhere in the North West, Carlton has plans for a £40m green hydrogen plant in Barrow-in-Furness. This facility would be capable of delivering enough power to supply 10,000 homes each year.

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Heysham Business Park

Application number: 22/01024/FUL

AMA FIC will deliver a gatehouse and four industrial units totalling 27,500 sq ft on the three-acre site off Stalls Road.

Designed by Bate and Taylor Architects, the scheme will see the demolition of the existing gatehouse and two industrial buildings totalling 10,800 sq ft on site to make way for the development.

The new individual units will measure 5,700 sq ft, 6,600 sq ft, 7,200 sq ft, and 8,200 sq ft.

A replacement gatehouse will also be built at the entrance to Heysham Business Park.

Visitors will be provided with 41 car parking spaces, including three accessible and three electric vehicle bays. There will also be eight cycle and four motorcycle spaces.

P4 Planning is the planning consultant for the scheme. The project team also includes landscape architect Urban Green, transport consultant SCP, and environmental consultant E3P.

Hillside Farm

Application number: 22/01317/FUL

Property investment firm Hamilton March can get to work on delivering its 100MW energy storage facility on the seven-acre site off Lancaster Road to provide rapid-response back-up electricity.

Made up of 50 energy storage battery units, the hub will export energy at a rate of up to 50MW per hour with the ability to supply power to the National Grid at this rate for up to two hours.

The facility will work by storing excess energy generated by renewable sources to be exported back into the distribution network during periods of low renewable generation.

Plans will also see two existing farm buildings at Hillside Farm converted to provide 2,900 sq ft office, research, and storage space.

Wind energy consultant The Energy Workshop is advising on planning.

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Sale Water Park

The 152-acre parkland and lake will host the largest ultra-rapid EV charging hub in Greater Manchester as a result of the £1m deal between the water park and Be.EV.

Be.EV will install 16 EV charging bays to deliver a combined power of 1.2MW, capable of charging 400 cars a day.

The project is the latest in Be.EV’s wider collaboration with Trafford Council, which has already seen more than 41 chargers go live across the borough.

Trafford Council will retain ownership of the site when the chargers go live in August, while Be.EV will own and maintain the charging hub.

This deal marks an important step in the council’s mission to ensure that every Trafford resident lives within 10 minutes of an EV charger.

Asif Ghafoor, chief executive of Be.EV, said: “The unique technology will make it easier than ever for visitors looking to charge their cars whilst out on the water, enjoying the scenery, or simply taking a break from travelling on the motorway.

“The site is also a testament to Trafford Council’s ambition to have a real impact on Greater Manchester and take the necessary steps towards a net zero future.”

Cllr Aidan Williams, executive member for climate change at Trafford Council, said: “Since the council declared a climate emergency in 2018, we have committed to a range of activities in an effort to achieve zero carbon status for the borough as soon as possible.

“This includes the delivery of projects that encourage people to make more journeys by bike, on foot, or using public transport”, he continued.

“However, we fully understand that this is not always possible and that it’s vital we support people to have cleaner, greener vehicles.”

A 1,900 sq ft store would be created alongside the EV charging bays. Credit: via planning documents

Oldham Road

Be.EV’s plans for a further 16 EV bays in the Newton Heath area of Manchester were approved last Wednesday.

Designed by Architect That, the scheme at the junction of Reliance Road and Oldham Road will feature two accessible bays, as well as two to accommodate larger goods vehicles.

Plans will also see the creation of a 1,900 sq ft convenience store to accommodate the users of the charging facilities.

Formerly a petrol station, the site has been vacant for more than 15 years.

Be.EV ran a public consultation on the proposals last September, with plans submitted in May.

Avison Young is the planning consultant for the scheme. Also on the project team is landscape architect DEP and electrical engineer Schneider Electric.

Learn more about the plans by searching for application number 136359/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

Elsewhere in Manchester, Be.EV has partnered with Northern Group to install two rapid electric vehicle chargers on Wilmslow Road in Didsbury. These rapid chargers have the ability to charge a typical electric car to 80% in 20 minutes to an hour, compared to four to six hours on a 7kW fast charger.

“We’ve seen an increase in demand for EV charging, and realised how beneficial it would be, not only for the environment, but also for our tenants to have the convenience of easy access to electric chargers at our developments,” said Northern Group chief operating officer Paul Dobbs. “Providing a service of this high quality is all part of our mission to future-proof our sites and ensure that they’re just as efficient in 30 years as they are today.”

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Features of the test houses include solar panels and air source pumps, which run on electricity instead of conventional gas boiler systems.

Energy efficiency measures will be taken such as thicker insulated roofs, triple-glazed windows, and smartphone-controlled underfloor heating loops.

The pilot homes will be built as part of Bellway’s Barton Quarter development off Chorley New Road in Horwich, which will see the Bellway create a total of 317 houses.

The Barton Quarter development is part of the wider £262m redevelopment of the Horwich Loco Works, a 1,700-home masterplan area.

Jamie Bursnell, group technical and innovations manager for Bellway, said: “The delivery of these eco homes in Greater Manchester forms part of the next stage in the national rollout of our Future Homes scheme.

“This project is central to our carbon reduction programme, which is one of three key priorities of our Better with Bellway strategy – a company-wide commitment to responsible and sustainable practices, launched in March 2022”, he continued.

“Bellway is proud to be at the vanguard of this exciting research to try to identify innovative, efficient, and scalable practices, which will help meet net zero carbon targets.”

Plans for Barton Quarter are part of an expanding project to deliver sustainable homes across Greater Manchester.

Outside the North West, the company is also currently building four eco homes in Callerton, near Newcastle, and is set to deliver a further five in Stafford.

Bursnell said: “The construction of these new homes in Bolton, Newcastle, and Stafford is being complemented by research from our Future Home initiative at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 facility.

“Bellway has built a fully-functioning three-bedroom house inside a giant chamber which can reproduce varying climate conditions, with temperatures ranging from -20C to +40C”, he continued.

“Energy House 2.0 will test innovations in building materials, recovering heat from wastewater, storing solar energy, double versus triple glazing, and the use of different heating systems including air source heat pumps.”

Learn more about the green agenda across the region. Book your Sustainability in Practice ticket.

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Eden is one of only two new buildings in the entire country to achieve that star rating from BRE, the other being British Land’s plot F2 at Canada Water in London. A NABERS Design for Performance target rating is determined through an independent design review. The highest possible score is six stars.

While Eden has a 5.5-star NABERS Design for Performance award, it will take a year for it to secure the same NABERS Energy Rating. That is because the building will have to be monitored over the course of 12 months to ensure it meets the performance standard.

The 115,000 sq ft Eden sits off Stanley Street in Salford’s New Bailey district and is being delivered by English Cities Fund, a joint venture between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England. Coming in at 12 storeys, the Grade A office building will be capable of running completely on renewable energy when it is operational.

Other energy efficiency initiatives include lifts that add power to the building’s electrical grid whenever they are used, air-source heat pumps, Passivhaus standard insulation, and a series of prop-tech initiatives.

ECF is also at work reducing the embodied carbon of Eden. By using recycled steel and cement replacements, Eden’s embodied carbon footprint has been placed at 662kg/sqm of CO2. That is on the lower end of the embodied carbon scale, with the Institution of Structural Engineers estimating that embodied carbon for new office buildings is usually between 500kg/sqm and 900kg/sqm of CO2. The building also boasts a 43,000 sq ft living wall as its facade.

Bowmer + Kirkland is the main contractor for the Make Architects-designed project and is aiming for a late summer completion.

• READ MORE: Eden’s epic living wall is nearly complete – but how will it work?

Phil Marsden, director of project management in the North West for Muse, described how the 5.5-star NABERS rating fits in with Eden’s genesis.

“Eden’s creation was motivated purely by the ambition to build the UK’s most sustainable and environmentally considerate commercial building,” Marsden said.

“We are thrilled with the result and have learnt so much; learnings we look forward to sharing with our sector to help build a brighter future, together.”

The NABERS achievement was also welcomed by Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett. He said: “Our city has a proud history of innovation, from the first steamboat to the first swing aqueduct, and we are thrilled to add Eden to that list – a sustainable endeavour Salfordians will be working hard to add to for the benefit of our city and future generations to come.”

Prior to Eden, the building with the highest NABERS design score in Greater Manchester was NOMA’s 4 Angel Square, which has a five-star design rating from BRE.

Eden may be the first to crack the 5.5-star barrier, but it is unlikely to be the last. Bruntwood Works’ Ev0 in Didsbury is also aiming to secure the prestigious NABERS rating.

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The housing association has exchanged contracts with Dyson Energy Services to retrofit properties with a range of measures, including solar PV, insulation, and heating upgrades in order to reduce energy bills and the properties’ carbon footprint.

Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the £7m project aims to improve energy efficiency and follows the government’s target of achieving an EPC C rating for all homes by 2030.

South Lakes Housing is part of the Cumbria Social Housing Consortium, led by Westmorland and Furness Council, which seeks to lower carbon emissions and help to create a greener future in the district.

Also part of the consortium is Eden Housing Association, Westfield Housing Association, Progress Housing Association, and Lune Valley Rural Housing Association.

Jamie Crane, head of business development at Dyson Energy Services, said: “With over 40 years of experience in the energy efficiency sector, Dyson is committed to delivering high-quality solutions that benefit both residents and the environment.

“This contract win aligns with our continued growth strategy and dedication to supporting the government’s ambitious net-zero targets.”

Richard Hayes, director of homes at South Lakes Housing, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Dyson Energy Services on our target to increase the energy efficiency performance of our homes, five years ahead of legislation, which will mean warmer and more affordable homes for our customers to live in.”

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HybridTec’s green academy sits within the education company’s headquarters off Heysham Road in Aintree. It has the capacity to teach green skills to 140 apprentices and more than 1,000 professionals and provides NIC EIC and BPEC accreditation.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram was on hand to celebrate the opening of the academy on 28 June.

He said: “If trains, docks and canals made our area a leader in the First Industrial Revolution, then I believe our world-leading strengths and natural assets in wind, tidal and hydrogen can make us a leader in the Green Industrial Revolution – and I want to ensure we’re in the best position to attract the many thousands of green jobs and training opportunities it will bring.

Rotheram continued: “I’ve set our region the ambitious target to reach net zero by 2040 – at least a decade ahead of national government targets – and I believe we have the skills, capabilities, and political will, to smash that goal. To help us get there, we need local organisations, like HybridTec, to match our ambition by creating the training opportunities that will give our residents the skills they need to succeed in a key industry of the future.”

The official opening of HybridTec’s green academy was 28 June. Credit: via Jayne Moore Media

Sophie Gilmore, managing director of HybridTec, said that the company was “firmly aligned” with the combined authority’s mission to be net zero by 2040.

“I am extremely proud that our innovative new green academy will contribute to the vital upskilling of tradespeople in the latest sustainable technologies across the region,” she said. “The green academy demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the net zero agenda – and will prepare a future workforce for careers in the green economy, ensuring no one in our industry is left behind.”

Learn more about how the built environment is tackling the green agenda. Book your Sustainability in Practice ticket.

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Livingstone is the executive director of Onward, a housing association responsible for 35,000 homes in the North West. White is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development. Together they were able to bring a social housing provider and local authority perspective on the factors hindering us from achieving net zero and affordable goals and how these obstacles can be overcome.

On this latest Place podcast episode, the two were joined by Place North West editor Julia Hatmaker who chaired a discussion that covered everything from retrofit and brownfield land development to social value.

Listen to the podcast at the top of this page to hear Livingstone and White’s insights into how we develop the homes of the future.

To find out more about Onward, visit onward.co.uk.

Don’t miss a single Place podcast episode. Subscribe to our series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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The post PODCAST | Homes of the future: how do we build sustainable communities? appeared first on Place North West.

Peel Cubico Renewables’ proposed solar farm would have a capacity of around 150 megawatts – enough to power more than 34,000 homes, according to the company.

Most of the energy would be pumped into the Frodsham Substation and then distributed to the wider Merseyside and Cheshire area by operator SP Energy Networks. Peel Cubico Renewables also said it was exploring private and direct connections.

The solar farm itself would take place on 780 acres located between the M56 and the River Weaver, just north of Frodsham. Of the 780 acres, 720 would be used for the solar panels, the remaining saved as green space. No development would take place on land designated as part of the Mersey Estuary wildlife site.

The scheme also includes installing solar farms under and around the turbines of the existing Frodsham Wind Farm on the site.

Current project timetables have the scheme in operation by 2028, contingent on its securing planning permission of course.

Due to its size, Frodsham Solar would be deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. As such it would need to be signed off by the Planning Inspectorate and the secretary of state.

The consultation can be accessed at frodshamsolar.co.uk. It concludes on 13 July.

Frodsham Solar is Peel Cubico Renewables’ first project in England. Credit: via Peel L&P

Peel Cubico Renewables’ plans come in a timely fashion. Global solar power investment is going to overtake spending on oil production for the first time this year, according to the International Energy Agency. Spending on solar power is forecasted to reach $382bn according to the Financial Times. Ten years ago, only $127bn was being spent on it.

“Energy security is one of the biggest issues in the UK right now, with many people understanding that the high cost of energy is linked to our reliance on imported gas,” said Annette Lardeur, development manager for Frodsham Solar.

“This project will support our national ambitions to reduce energy prices, cut emissions, and create homegrown clean energy,” she continued.

“Frodsham Solar will play a key part in this transition while creating a flow of clean electrons to homes and businesses in the region.”

This is the first England scheme for Peel Cubico Renewables. The JV is also developing the £30m Billown Solar Farm on the Isle of Man.

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Architect That designed the scheme, which would deliver the facility in the Newton Heath area of Manchester.

Plans for the site also feature a 1,900 sq ft convenience store to accommodate the users of the EV charging facilities.

Of the 16 EV bays, two would be accessible and another two would accommodate larger goods vehicles.

The hub would sit on a former petrol station site, which has been out-of-use for more than 15 years.

Be.EV, who already runs over 300 charging points across Greater Manchester, ran a public consultation on the proposals last September.

Avison Young is the planning consultant for the scheme.

Also on the project team is landscape architect DEP and electrical engineer Schneider Electric.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 136359/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

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