Cambridge’s parks could be dug up to provide green heating network
Deep boreholes could be dug across three of Cambridge’s historic parks to supply renewable energy to the city’s biggest public buildings.
Cambridge City Council is working on a bold project to start powering some of its large buildings with renewable sources, including ground source heat pumps that work by absorbing natural warmth from the ground and transferring it to nearby buildings.
The proposal to sink the boreholes into Cambridge’s parks came to light after it was revealed that the city council was no longer considering excavating the market square to install a heat pump as the location had been deemed “unsuitable”.
A council report reveals that instead these boreholes could be sunk into Parker’s Piece, Jesus Green and Midsummer Common, along with land at the end of Cranmer Road. Up to 60 per cent of the space at the parks could be dug up during construction.
However, the Federation of Cambridge Residents’ Associations has called for the public to be made more aware of this potential use of the city’s civic space.
The city council’s Labour leader Cllr Mike Davey told the Cambridge Independent: “Something that we’re really excited about is about how we might be able to decarbonise huge chunks of the city centre and we’ve been working with the university on this now for a couple of years.
“We are at the point now of undertaking further feasibility studies and I think we’re looking at allocating significant amount of cash to do that because obviously it’s incredibly complicated. And to make sure it works effectively, we have to ensure the university and the city council are working closely together - so far they have been. The next stage, having agreed the principles, is to look at how we can take forward and start to get into more of the detail.”
This proposed network would provide heating for The Guildhall, The Corn Exchange and Parkside Pool as well as some University of Cambridge colleges’ buildings.
The city council report states: “Delivery of the first phase of a zero-carbon heat network could begin in early 2028, if all stages progressed smoothly.”
The total forecast construction cost is £165million and would be split into four phases forecast to cost £35m-52m, based on today’s prices.
The figures were released in a report to the environment and communities scrutiny committee.
It estimates that 60 per cent of each of the parks could be dug up to accommodate the boreholes but that after the work was completed it would not cause much “visual impact”.
Wendy Blythe of the Federation of Cambridge Residents’ Associations said: “The public has not been told about it. I am concerned that plans are being made concerning the city’s commons without asking people whether they agree with that use of their parks. We don’t know how long the works will take or what impact they will have on our green spaces. I think it is very odd that we haven’t been consulted at all about it.”
After the boreholes are dug, the network would connect to many buildings in Cambridge to supply them with heating and hot water. This would require underground pipes to be installed leading from the parks and energy centres to the buildings, requiring major roadworks.
One word of caution was noted in the report about the potential effect on Cambridge’s bridges. It said: “The full network route also includes potentially crossing the River Cam. Due to the age, design, and conservation status of many bridges developing a cost-effective solution to the crossing will be key to inclusion of phases beyond the river.”
A city council spokesperson said: “The city council and University of Cambridge’s feasibility study is still ongoing and due to conclude at the end of September. The feasibility study includes an initial network route which will connect the Guildhall to the district heating system at the back of the Guildhall but it is thought that construction work will not be required to dig under the market square as it has been ruled out as an energy centre for the heat network.
“The feasibility study looked at potential heat sources in the city centre which the district heat network could connect to. The market square has been ruled out as a heat source.”
This is believed to be due to the wine cellars that exist under the market square, belonging to Cambridge colleges and private businesses as well as underground cells that are connected to the Guildhall.
The council spokesperson added: “If the finalised results of the feasibility study confirm that there is a viable opportunity for a district heat network in the city centre of Cambridge, the council and university plan to apply for government funding to progress the project to the next stage.”
The benefits of such a plan would be to deliver around 87 per cent carbon savings compared to individual gas boilers and a 50 per cent carbon saving compared to individual air source heat pumps, according to the council report, as long as all four stages are completed.
If successful, the officer’s report suggests that in future phases there would be an opportunity to connect the council’s housing stock and other housing in the city to the heat network.
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