Trafford Civic Quarter Heat Network

Key information

Urgency: Low (within 48 hours)
Company Name: Trafford Council
Contact Name: Jez Tweed
Contact Email: jez.tweed@trafford.gov.uk
Telephone:
Expires: 29/08/2025

Details

Trafford Civic Quarter Heat Network Greater Manchester was selected by the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) as part of the Heat Network Advanced Zoning Programme. Within this programme, Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have brought forward plans for a Trafford Civic Quarter Heat Network reference project. The reference project sits within the Civic Quarter development area with 70% of heat demand from new development, jointly funded by GMCA, Trafford Council and a private developer. Totalling circa 50,000 m2 of new office and commercial space along with 4,000 new homes, Trafford Civic Quarter provides an unrivalled opportunity to invest in one of the best connected and fastest growing locations in Greater Manchester. The reference project is envisaged to provide 27GWh/year thermal energy based on 4.2MW sewer source heat pumps, with thermal stores and additional back up / peak boilers. The creation of a Civic Quarter Heat Network is core to the vision contained within Trafford Council’s Civic Quarter Area Action Plan and its goal of achieving carbon neutrality across Trafford by 2038. The Council and GMCA have worked closely with a range of different partners, including landowners, developers, public sector heat off takers and infrastructure providers to develop the plans for the heat network. Looking more widely, the Trafford Civic Quarter sits in the Western Gateway, one of six Growth Locations across GM where development will be prioritised. As one example, the Old Trafford Regeneration Scheme, just north of Trafford’s Civic Quarter, will be the biggest regeneration since London 2012 and could unlock 48,000 new jobs, 17,000 new homes, and add £4.2 billion to the local economy. Its strategic location provides an additional opportunity to establish a commercially viable heat network that will not only service the Civic Quarter but also continue expansion across the emerging north Trafford Heat Zone. This includes Trafford Park, the world’s first planned industrial park and still one of Europe’s largest. The park contains a number of potential heat sources, including data centres and industrial sources, and is adjacent to other large sources such as Davyhulme Water Treatment works. Trafford Council will be procuring a development agreement to complete the commercialisation phase of the Civic Quarter project, and subject to an approval gateway, construct the reference project. Procurement for the Civic Quarter project, and possibly for the wider north Trafford zone, is expected to launch in Summer 2025.

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