Latest development on major multi-million pound low-carbon energy network for Solihull
There has been a new development in the long-awaited multi-million pound low-carbon power network which would heat schools, offices and council buildings in Solihull town centre. Solihull Council has been working on the ambitious scheme to provide "low carbon" heating and electricity to council buildings, offices and school and college sites for years.
The plan is to build the energy hub next to Tudor Grange Leisure Centre with the network extending south to Solihull College and Tudor Grange Academy. Future phases could power Alderbrook School on Blossomfield Road, St Peter’s Catholic School and eventually Solihull Hospital.
Solihull is striving to be a net zero borough by 2041 with the new energy network designed to play a major role in reaching that target. Full planning permission for the energy network was granted in March 2021.
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In October 2023 Solihull Council cabinet members agreed to proceed with the £18.7 million project. Funding has come from a combination of grant money worth £9.6 million and borrowing of just over £9 million.
As work did not start within three years of the scheme originally receiving planning permission, the application had to be resubmitted. That resubmission was given the green light last May.
And last summer the council announced, after a tendering process, it was partnering with Vital Energi Ltd to deliver the project. It has now emerged a new application for amendments to the planning permission has been lodged with Solihull Council.
One of the key amendments being requested is a slight change to the position on the Blossomfield Road site due to “unknown below ground service easement that is parallel to the network rail boundary” being discovered. Other changes requested include:
Reduction in overall energy centre footprint
Addition of three new glass reinforced plastic enclosures
Reduction and relocation of attenuation pond and ecology items such as tree planting
Plans were submitted on January 8. To view the application search for PL/2025/00040/NONMC on the council's planning portal. https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications.
When the Vital Energi Ltd deal was announced last July Coun Andy Mackiewicz, the portfolio holder for climate change and planning, said: “A huge amount of hard work has already gone in to developing this project and with Vital’s help we can finally get it over the line and bring the benefit of affordable, reliable low carbon energy to Solihull town centre customers, while contributing to an overall reduction in the borough’s carbon emissions. The town centre energy network will be the first of its kind in Solihull and will hopefully pave the way for similar projects around the borough.”