Heat network expands as drive continues to slash city’s carbon emissions

Hundreds more homes in Leeds should soon receive more affordable, reliable, and lower carbon heating with three tower blocks set to become the latest to connect to the Leeds PIPES district heating network.

259 council properties in Lovell Park Heights, Lovell Park Grange, and Lovell Park Towers will be set up to receive heat from the network within the next six months.

Private leaseholders of properties in the Little London tower blocks will also be able to benefit from the network if they opt to connect their homes to the system.

Meanwhile, Leeds Conservatoire (formerly Leeds College of Music) has become the 13th non-residential customer to have signed a contract to connect.

The new connections are expected to reduce the city’s annual carbon footprint by 279 tonnes, supporting efforts to end the city’s contribution to climate change by transitioning to Net Zero emissions.

By using heat and energy recovered from non-recyclable waste at the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city, the Leeds PIPES district heating project is designed to help businesses and residents move away from costly fossil-fuel powered heating systems.

The council estimates the network, delivered in partnership with Vital Energi, is helping existing customers to collectively save nearly half a million pounds in reduced energy costs this year alone.

The £62m network continues to expand. Leonardo & Thoresby student accommodation buildings and St James’s Hospital are the latest buildings to have begun taking heat from the scheme.

Leeds City Council says it is currently in discussions with dozens of potential customers.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for climate, energy, environment & green space and Cllr Jessica Lennox, executive member for housing, said: “We are both pleased that hundreds more residents will soon be paying significantly less to heat their homes thanks to this latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES network.

“Residents in the Lovell Park estate will join the thousands of council tenants and hundreds of private sector renters already benefiting.

“Too many families in our city struggle to pay their energy bills—in part because the UK’s homes are some of the least efficient and most reliant on costly fossil fuel gas in Europe.

“Whether it’s by connecting homes to affordable low carbon heating like Leeds PIPES, or investing in energy-saving measures like insulation, this council is committed to helping households by making our homes greener and fit for the future.”

Mike Cooke, Vital Energi’s managing director (North and Scotland), added: “Leeds PIPES continues to be the UK’s landmark heat network and we’re happy to announce these new connections, which means more people will benefit from low-carbon, cheaper heat to businesses and residents, making a real difference in their day-to-day lives.

“We look forward to welcoming another 259 homes and Leeds Conservatoire to the fastest growing heat network and will work with the council to ensure they have the best possible customer experience.”