LIVERPOOL CITY REGION ENERGY CENTRE PLANS MOVE AHEAD

10th February 2021

Plans to develop an energy centre in Liverpool, which would heat up to 9,000 homes and four million sq ft of commercial space, look set to be backed.

Peel L&P Energy is behind the application, which concerns a site between Great Howard Street and Sherwood Street.

Drawn up last year, the proposals would be expected to save about 4,200 tonnes of carbon per year through the primary use of water source heat pumps and thermal stores.

The Mersey Heat application also includes plans for two 3MW water source heat pumps, which would work on an open loop system to take heat from water abstracted from the Leeds/Liverpool canal before pumping it back into the waterway.

Part-funded by the Merseyside Pension Fund, the first phase would provide warmth for up to 9,000 homes and four million sq ft of commercial space at Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters development, with connections to buildings at Stanley Docks in the pipeline.

The application is now set to go before Liverpool City Council’s planning committee on 16 February, with a recommendation for approval.

A planning statement submitted to the authority said: “The proposal would support the growth of the Liverpool Waters and Stanley Dock areas, thereby improving the opportunity for the city to attract inward investment.

“It contributes significantly to the city council’s aims of providing sustainable development, economic regeneration and transformation of this brownfield site in accordance with sound planning principles.”

At the time the plans were revealed, Peel L&P Energy commercial director Jonathan Burley added: “This new facility will use renewable technologies as the main energy source to help power the Mersey Heat network and connect homes and offices to low carbon heat and hot water.

“This proposal supports the UK’s goal of becoming net zero by 2050 as well as Liverpool City Region’s climate emergency targets.

“As new technology develops, we hope to decarbonise the network further, making the city an even cleaner and greener place to live.”

Pending planning approval, work on the energy centre would be due to start on site mid-2021.

Read more about Liverpool City Region’s energy and environment sector HERE.

10th February 2021