Hillingdon Council has received £13.75 million from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme towards the decarbonisation programme.
The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.
A ‘Thermanova’ air source heat pump has been installed on the roof of Hillingdon Council’s  Grade II listed Civic Centre in Uxbridge. The council’s project team oversaw the installation. On Wednesday, representatives from Amaresco, which delivered the project on behalf of the council, joined the team.
The installation contributes to the council’s ambitious decarbonisation project, which will substantially reduce carbon emissions across several of its most significant buildings and help towards the authority’s ambition for its operations to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The works, which include measures such as installing air source heat pumps and solar panels, are projected to lead to £190,000 of energy savings per year, 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide savings annually, and the generation of 17 kilowatts of power.
Some of those heat pumps are ‘Supanova’ models, among the largest in the country and around the size of a shipping container. Hillingdon Council is the first to install these as part of its carbon reduction programme.
Works are already well underway at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge and at Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex, which is also in Uxbridge and where the Supernovas are being installed.Â
Further works are taking place at Highgrove Pool and Fitness Centre in Ruislip. The improvements also include the installation of secondary glazing, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, improved ventilation, and LED lighting.
Modifications to the Winston Churchill Theatre in Ruislip were completed earlier this year, and the building is now running at net carbon zero.
The two leisure centres’ construction is expected to be completed by October, whereas the Civic Centre, the council’s flagship building, is expected to be completed by November.
At the Civic Centre, 30 air-source heat pumps—which absorb heat from the outside and then warm it by compression—are being installed across the site, and the four central gas-powered boilers are being removed to allow for more efficient temperature control throughout the building.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for property, highways and transport, said: “We’re committed to creating a green and sustainable borough.
“Receiving the largest government grant in London for our decarbonisation project sets down a marker that we’re delivering on this pledge and our ambition for the council’s operations to be carbon neutral by 2030.
“This project is an essential, short-term spend but will result in long-term net savings, both financially and environmentally, for the council and our residents.”
The council has contributed £5 million to the project, and developers’ carbon credit contributions have funded a further £7 million.
Salix’s director of programmes, Ian Rodger, said: “This is an ambitious project, and we are looking forward to supporting the council in delivering carbon savings, seeing the improvements to the buildings, and seeing the benefits for the local community.”
Sport England is part-funding a separate project to reduce carbon emissions at Botwell Green Leisure Centre in Hayes. The works here include improving the roof insulation and installing solar panels, which will be completed by December.
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