Express & Star

New eco-friendly energy centre to heat Wolverhampton estate

Plans to build a new eco-friendly energy centre that will supply heating to a large housing estate in Wolverhampton have been given the go-ahead.

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The Heath Town estate in Wolverhampton. Photo: Google Street View

The low-carbon sustainable energy boiler house will be used to supply heating to 1,456 dwellings in Heath Town for the next 30 years.

Located on a vacant plot in Chervil Rise, it will replace the current outdated facility in nearby Hobgate Road.

Construction of the 300 sq m single-storey plant room, which will have an additional 198 sq m two-storey wing, will take place as part of the wider ongoing multi-million pound Heath Town refurbishment project.

A report to planning bosses from engineering and environmental consultants Jacobs said: “The current network supplies eight high and medium-rise blocks, deck access blocks and other existing residential blocks. The new plant will extract energy from the atmosphere via roof-mounted evaporators and internal heat pumps.

“The high-grade waste heat from the engine will be recycled to top up the system temperature, which can be further supplemented in exceptional weather by hydrogen-ready gas boilers. The evaporators, or dry air coolers, are located on the roof as this makes best use of the limited space on-site.

“Boilers, heat pumps, CHP (combined heat and power), thermal storage, heat exchangers and all other associated equipment will be installed on the ground floor. There will also be a provision for the connection to a temporary heating plant in the event of a total plant failure.”

The Heath Town estate represents one of the last stages of 1960s high-rise development within the city with some of its tallest residential structures.  It was officially opened by Princess Margaret in 1969.

So far the refurbishment project has seen an extensive demolition programme of vacant buildings, existing residential blocks undergoing major improvements by Wolverhampton Homes, and the creation of three new play areas and a football pitch.