Local campaigners welcome funding award from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

credit Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management

Local campaigners have hailed a £14million funding boost for a green heat network in Brent Cross.

The Brent Cross Town housing development has been confirmed as a recipient of government funding for a heat network system, which when complete will be one of the “largest fully electric energy centres in Europe”.

The flagship housing scheme will see 6,700 new homes, workspace for 25,000 people, and a new local community with schools and sports facilities created at Brent Cross over the next 15-20 years.

Funding for the heat network was awarded by the government’s Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), with a total £57m pot split between five projects around the country, including Brent Cross Town.

Ben Samuel, a campaigner for the Barnet branch of United for Warm Homes, said the new heat system was long overdue and Barnet Council as well as the government needed to be firm in its approach in delivering greener and more affordable communal heat going forward.

Alongside providing affordable low-carbon heat, the network is also expected to create 121 new long-term jobs and support apprentices.

Ben said: “I really hope that these jobs, working with heat pumps, will provide working people enough to satisfy some of the rip-off bills we have seen in communities who are tied into a monopoly utilities provider.”

The new heat system, which will be delivered with the support of Vattenfall Heat UK, will generate low carbon heat through an electric energy centre and supply all resident, commercial, and leisure buildings on the Brent Cross Town development.

Local campaigner Dave McCormick said: “We welcome all efforts to shift our energy system from a centralised carbon-based system to one based on local renewable energy that helps support the local economy.

“Local developments should have sustainability at the heart of design – and that means going beyond net zero to include reducing water consumption, waste and air pollution.”

Brent Cross Town is a joint venture between developer Related Argent and Barnet Council.

André Gibbs, executive director at Related Argent, said: “When complete, Brent Cross Town will have one of the largest fully electric energy centres in Europe.”

Alan Schneiderman, the council’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, added: “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.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.