Leeds LEP to work alongside Yorkshire businesses to launch District Heat Programme

The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is working alongside local authorities to provide low cost heat to businesses and residents across the region.

With funding from Government, feasibility work will be undertaken on six potential district heat

network opportunities, which if implemented could deliver heat to over 1,200 businesses and realise an annual income of over £36 million.

These projects are located in Barnsley, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Leeds and York.

The District Heat Programme, led by the LEP and operational across all districts in the region, has prioritised the six schemes according to the potential benefit they could bring to the economy of the City Region.

A district heat network is an incredibly efficient way of supplying heat to

buildings and does so through a network of insulated pipes which connect a heat supplier.

Paul Hamer, Chair of the LEP’s Green Economy Panel said: “This is a major step forward in delivering on our ambition of creating a resource smart City Region for our businesses and residents. These projects have the potential to transfer control of energy provision in the region from large national and multi-national suppliers to local organisations and businesses.

“When these schemes are functional, they will enhance the investment offer to businesses looking to invest in the region as well as supporting efforts to alleviate fuel poverty.

“Alongside these major economic advantages, these potential projects also have the ability to save thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide and secure the long-term provision of energy to the City Region”