Member Article

Heat is on for £1bn flagship life science campus

Liverpool’s £1 billion Paddington Village development, the UK’s largest new health and science campus currently under construction, is to utilise an underground heating network that will help cut the city’s carbon footprint.

The new energy scheme, being delivered by sustainable energy experts Vital Energi, will serve the entire Paddington Village site, which sits within the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) Mayor Development Zone including the new northern home for the Royal College of Physicians. The energy centre will be in the ground floor of the new 14-storey carpark, situated off Elm Grove, and will house a 1,195 kWh combined heat and power engine which will provide both electricity and heat. The heat generated will be distributed throughout the 30-acre site via a network of buried district heating pipework. Morgan Sindall Construction is the main contractor for both the carpark and the energy centre.

As part of the innovative underground project, Liverpool City Council’s Fair City initiative will ensure it is also used to deliver a range of social value commitments designed to benefit the people of Liverpool.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “Paddington Village is one of Europe’s major life sciences development sites and its construction is a reflection of our ambition to create something unique - be it RCP’s pioneering Spine scheme to this new energy centre. Liverpool also recently declared a climate change emergency and as a city council we are doing everything in our power to cut our carbon footprint. I’m delighted this energy centre is being built. It sends out a signal the city means business on making a difference both to our economy and our environment.”

Construction has started on site for the carpark. The flue for the energy centre will be constructed in January 2020 with it coming online in summer 2020, and the carpark will be completed in January 2021.

Michael Cooke, Regional Director for Vital Energi, explains: “This is a truly exciting project because, not only do we have the opportunity to create an efficient and robust energy scheme and heat network in the heart of Liverpool’s newest major development, we are also able to work with the city council, Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool in Work and other organisations to deliver some truly valuable social value measures through the Fair City initiative.

“By working together we have been able to create long-term, permanent jobs, apprenticeships, work placements and training opportunities whilst ensuring that the majority of money spent and the majority of labour hired will come from the immediate Liverpool area. We are delighted to have been chosen to help deliver this project and look forward to starting on site.”

Vital Energi have released a range of 3D images designed to show the public how the energy centre section of the development will be delivered.

Richard Potts, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction commented, “Low carbon is the future and progressive cities all over the world are getting to grips with how it’s delivered. We are excited to be part of the project team ensuring that Paddington Village has superb sustainability credentials and this is another welcome milestone on a scheme we are all immensely proud to be delivering.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gordon Coates .