Reducing emissions and power consumption with low-carbon energy installations

We helped Blackburn with Darwen Council to secure funding and various planning / listed buildings consents for a programme that will significantly reduce the carbon footprint and fuel bills of 23 council buildings through the installation of sustainable power, heating, and management technologies.

We were originally appointed by Blackburn with Darwen Council to provide technical oversight of its Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding (PSDS) bid administer by Salix, which provides grants for public bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and other energy efficiency measures. As a result, the council secured £2.25m which is expected to help the authority reduce emissions by 290 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. We were appointed to implement the schemes, including providing town planning, building regulations, building surveying, technical design services and project management to ensure all projects are completed within the agreed time scales.

The funding supports 23 separate schemes including the installation of solar PV Arrays , LED lighting, air source heat pumps, upgrading and replacement of building management systems, and fabric alterations in several public buildings, including leisure centres, Grade II Listed Town Hall and Wharf buildings, commercial office spaces and early learning day centres

There have been a number of challenges with planning that required special considerations. Two of the schemes have required interventions to Grade II listed building and have required sympathetic design input including and liaising with the local authority Conservation Officers to obtain the required consents for the works.

These projects will reduce emissions from the council’s estate by around 5% and reduce energy bills by over £400,000 a year. All of the buildings are continuing to be occupied during the works, which has been well planned to minimise any disruption to the end users.

Now that the funding and application processes are completed, we are helping to make sure the winning schemes are within the agreed time scales and within the allotted budget.