United Infrastructure has delivered a new energy centre serving more than 1,000 residents on the Heath Town estate in Wolverhampton.
The centre, built in partnership with Wolverhampton Homes on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council, was officially launched last week. It replaces an ageing boiler house nearing the end of its serviceable life, where repairs and replacement parts had become increasingly difficult to obtain.
The new facility combines air source heat pumps, supplied by 48 roof-mounted evaporators, with supplementary hydrogen-ready boilers. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 500 tonnes a year.
Alongside improvements to the estate’s wider heat network, the centre will meet existing demand and provide capacity to serve new homes as Heath Town grows. United Infrastructure said it will provide more reliable, efficient heating and help reduce energy costs for residents.
The project is part of a £19.5m investment in the estate’s heating network, including £7.5m from the government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme. The remaining funding comes from the council’s Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme.
United Infrastructure’s work included remediating the land, redirecting services and commissioning new pumps and monitoring equipment. It worked with Wolverhampton Homes, the council, designers and specialist subcontractors.
Councillor Steve Evans, deputy leader and cabinet member for city housing and assets at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “By replacing ageing infrastructure with modern technology, we are creating a system that is fit for the future, capable of meeting current demand and supporting the continued growth of Heath Town in the years ahead as we build more new homes on the estate.”
Ian Gardner, director of housing operations at Wolverhampton Homes, said: “The completion of the new energy centre marks an important stage in the long-term investment in the Heath Town estate.”
Lee Davis, head of operations at United Infrastructure, said: “Our work in Heath Town has always been about improving everyday life for the people who live here. This new energy centre is an important part of that, helping residents enjoy warm, comfortable homes with a heating system they can rely on, while helping to reduce energy costs.”
Main image: (Left to right) City of Wolverhampton Council deputy leader and cabinet member for city housing and assets, Councillor Steve Evans (right), with Heath Town residents Victor Browne, his wife, Victoria, and daughter, Sevanneh, inside the new Heath Town Energy Centre
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