City Hall likely to be connected to green energy network

The underground network will pipe heat produced at a new energy plant being built on Thornton Road to a number of city centre buildings.

Bradford Law Courts have already signed up to the heat network, and Bradford College and the University of Bradford are also considering connecting. On Tuesday Bradford Council’s Executive will be asked for approval to link Grade I listed City Hall to the network.

Work underway on the energy plant on Thornton Road (Image: T&A) Once the building is attached, its ageing gas-powered boilers will be removed.

The energy plant, which is being built at the junction of Thornton Road and Listerhills Road, will use air source heat pumps to provide low carbon heating.

The company running the network 1Energy, was awarded a £20m Government grant to set up the network in 2022, and work to lay piping under the city’s streets has been underway for several months.

The network is expected to be up and running by 2026.

Bradford Council has also been awarded Government funding of over £2m to link City Hall to the network.

A report to the Executive says: “The University of Bradford has confirmed that it is entering into contract discussions with 1Energy for the supply of heat for, potentially, 16 buildings. Bradford College and Bradford Law Courts have contracted for the supply of heat via the Bradford Energy Network.

“The Government also offered funding to the Council to connect St Georges Hall and the Alhambra to the network, however, the required timescales for delivery could not be met without significant disruption to both buildings during UK City of Culture 2025.

“The Government has confirmed that funding and support for the network will continue over the next few years subject to performance and successful application for further grants.

“Should key performance targets be met if City Hall is connected to the network, then the Council will consider heat network connections for St Georges Hall and the Alhambra, subject to funding availability and further approvals.

“The Council has modelled the costs of connecting City Hall to the network compared with retaining gas boilers at City Hall, which will require placement within 5-10 years at a cost of £750,000 at current costs.”

It says if gas prices fall in the coming years, the energy network would prove more expensive than retaining City Hall’s gas boilers. But if gas prices rise, the energy network will prove cheaper.

Referring to the green credentials of the network, the report adds: “It has been estimated that the connection of key Council buildings, including City Hall, St Georges Hall and the Alhambra, will reduce CO2e emissions by 554 tonnes per annum.”