Round 10 of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) has shaped up to be one of the programme’s biggest funding rounds, as social landlords, hospitals, universities, charities, and other public sector buildings receive a share of £15.6 million.

 

In this round, capital grant funding will unlock efficiency improvements that will result in fuel savings of around 348,600kWh per year, resulting in annual carbon savings in England and Wales of 52,526 tonnes per year. To put this into perspective, in just Round 10 alone, HNES is helping to reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of over 455 one-way flights from London to New York every year.

 

Revenue funding is also helping heat network owners to identify what may be causing the various inefficiencies and issues experienced by heat network customers. In this round, optimisation studies are going towards heat networks operating in critical locations, including at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital, and HMP Bristol.

 

Today’s funding announcement comes soon after news that the Government has allocated HNES an additional £15 million in both FY28/29 and FY29/30 in the Warm Homes Plan. The additional support, alongside new regulations and technical standards beginning to apply to the district heating sector, confirms the Government’s commitment to maintaining high standards in the industry while ensuring residents are protected from unfair price shocks and unreliability.

 

Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, said:

 

“The conflict in the Middle East has shown once again why we must get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and onto clean, homegrown power we control.

 

“Heat networks will play a crucial role in that shift, lowering bills for whole communities while strengthening our energy security.

 

“That’s why we’re upgrading old and inefficient systems and investing in modern, low-cost networks fit for the future.”

 

Louise Singleton, HNES Programme Manager, said:

 

“Decarbonising our living and working spaces with new low carbon heat networks is a key part of the puzzle if we are to meet our net zero targets.

 

“Equally important is ensuring that our existing heating infrastructure is operating as it should be.

 

“I am proud that HNES is doing just that, and I am delighted to announce that over 10,000 residents in this round alone will benefit from more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective heating thanks to support provided today.”

 

Capital Grant Funding

 

Capital grant funding will go directly towards capital works to improve the efficiency of existing heat networks. In Round 10, 16 organisations will receive a share of over £14.3 million worth of capital support, benefiting over 3,700 residents who will receive more reliable and efficient heating.

 

Housing Associations and Social Housing Providers

 

Connexus Group

The Drovers House and Henffordd Gardens heat networks in Shropshire and Herefordshire, respectively, will receive efficiency upgrades as Connexus Group receives over £134,000 from the scheme.

 

The two networks serve a total of 39 residents, and both have been struggling with over and underheating, excessive heat losses, and poor water quality. The funding will go towards upgrading components of the heating system, introducing an improved Building Management System (BMS), and enhanced metering and billing systems.

 

London & Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q)

L&Q has received over £2 million from HNES for efficiency improvements to the Papermill Place, Atlip Road, and Kingsland Wharves (Hertford Road) heat networks. The networks are located in Waltham Forest, Brent, and Hackney, respectively, and serve a total of 655 residents.

 

All three networks have presented opportunities for improvement, including in heat loss reduction, thermal efficiency, insulation, supply reliability, and overall consistency of service. The HNES funding will be directed towards addressing these areas through the replacement of Heat Interface Units (HIUs), upgrades to network insulation and metering, and further efficiency improvements across both plant rooms and individual homes.

 

Notting Hill Genesis

£2.8 million has been awarded to Notting Hill Genesis for efficiency improvements to their Stratford Halo Estate, Clive Lloyd House, and Gloucester Court heat networks. Serving 758 residents, the networks are currently experiencing excessive heat losses, corrosion and blockages, increased energy consumption, high operating costs, and overheating in communal areas. HNES funding will go towards rectifying these issues, including hydraulic rebalancing, insulation upgrades, installing more efficient controls and HIUs, pipework modifications, and BMS upgrades.

 

One Manchester

One Manchester Ltd has been awarded more than £637,000 to improve the efficiency of the Abbey Court and Erneley Close heat networks, which together serve 104 residents. Improvements to the heat networks, supported through HNES funding, will include insulation upgrades, improved HIU controls, flow temperature improvements, and updates to the BMS. These improvements will modernise the network, reduce heat loss, increase reliability, and ensure the system operates more efficiently, delivering better value for money and a more consistent service for residents.

 

Orbit Group

The heat network at Victoria Villa in Thanet, serving 40 residents, will benefit from almost £300,000 worth of HNES support for a heat network experiencing high heat losses, high flow temperatures, evidence of leaks, and faulty thermostats. Improvements to the heat network include the installation of a new BMS with weather compensation technology to improve system control and reduce flow temperatures, the installation of new plantroom heat meters, upgrading pipework insulation and recommissioning water-quality equipment.

 

SALIX Homes

The heat networks at Sycamore Court, Mulberry Court and Magnolia Court in Salford will benefit from efficiency improvements following Salix Homes’ successful £1.2 million funding award from HNES.

 

The three 1960s high rise blocks are currently served by older heating systems which are no longer as efficient as modern alternatives. The HNES funding will support a range of upgrades designed to improve system performance and efficiency, including the replacement of HIUs and Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs), the installation of new bulk meters, and the upgrading of insulation on the network pipework. It will also support improved variable system controls on distribution pumps for more efficient network operation.

 

These improvements will enhance the network’s efficiency across all three buildings, while supporting efforts to tackle fuel poverty by helping to reduce energy bills and improve comfort in people’s homes.

 

Solihull Community Housing Limited

Solihull Community Housing is benefitting from over £2.1 million from HNES for efficiency improvements to five heat networks in Solihull serving a total of 484 residents. The Chester & Warwick Court, Selwyn & Sommerville House, Richmond & Trevelyan House, Wadham & Mansfield House, and Clare & Pembroke House heat networks will undergo efficiency improvements thanks to support from the scheme.

 

The five heat networks have faced issues including the poor condition of the plantrooms, poor control and water quality, high return temperatures, frequent heating and hot water outages, ageing and inaccurate metering systems, high heat tariffs, and deteriorating pipework. Improvements to the networks include upgrading the BMS systems, recommissioning the HIUs, deploying resettable HIUs, and optimising the tertiary pump control strategies to specific design parameters.

 

whg (Walsall Housing Group)

whg will benefit from over £45,700 from HNES for improvements to the Austin House heat network, serving 65 residential properties. This low carbon, ground source heat pump system has seen reduced efficiency over time, and this presents an opportunity to enhance heat delivery. The network also includes a legacy building management system and older equipment, which will benefit from targeted upgrades to improve overall performance. As part of the HNES-supported improvements, critical components will be upgraded, insulation will be improved, and the BMS will be replaced.

 

Local Authorities

 

London Borough of Camden

Both Dudley Court and Lymington Road Estate in the London Borough of Camden will receive a share of £2.1 million for efficiency improvements to the heat networks, where around 358 residents will benefit. The two heat networks are experiencing operational inefficiencies, high unplanned outages, lack of temperature consistency, and heat losses. HNES funding will go towards optimisation measures throughout the network including reconfiguration, upgrade of insulation, improved controls as well as replacement HIUs in dwellings.

 

North East Derbyshire District Council

North East Derbyshire District Council will receive £153,000 for efficiency improvements to both the Marx Court and Church Avenue heat networks located in Chesterfield. Serving 46 residents, the networks are experiencing both over and underheating, high heat losses, and water quality problems. The funding will go towards the upgrading of insulation, property heat meters, more accurate billing programmers, TRVs, and improved monitoring and fault detection.

 

Private Sector

 

FirstPort Property Services Limited

FirstPort will receive almost £1 million for efficiency improvements to the Park 25 heat network, serving 244 residents. The network has experienced elevated heat losses, intermittent reliability challenges, and suboptimal pump sizing. Funding will support a programme of targeted upgrades, including the installation of correctly sized pumps, enhancements to network insulation, and improvements to control systems to optimise overall performance, efficiency, and long-term resilience.

 

Leathermarket Joint Management Board

The Meakin Estate heat network, serving 123 residents, will benefit from heat network improvements thanks to £1.3 million of HNES funding to Leathermarket. The network’s poor insulation, plastic pipework, and configuration has led to excessive heat losses, high return temperatures and general inefficient operation. Funding will go towards the installation of new HIUs, new pipework, and installing a new correctly sized energy centre with a modern BMS.

 

Radius RTM Company Limited

The Radius Development in Wandsworth will receive over £208,000 from HNES benefiting the 152 residents connected to the network. The network has faced lengthy outages, major water leaks affecting the wider system, high operational costs, elevated carbon emissions, and inefficient heat delivery. As part of the project, the heat network will be fitted with pipework insulation and HIUs, pumps will be recommissioned, and metering and monitoring tools will be installed alongside a performance monitoring dashboard.

 

Roffey Homes Ltd

Roffey Homes will receive over £19,000 for the benefit of their leaseholders, for efficiency improvements to their 1970s Wentworth Court development central heat network in Worthing, serving 20 residents. Radiators in the 1970s tended not to have TRVs fitted as they were not commonplace at the time, while more recently the network has faced control valve malfunctions due to its age causing wasted energy. Improvements to the network include upgrading the network insulation, installing new TRVs for the 60% of radiators that lack them, and improved thermostat and control valves.

 

Russell Court (Bloomsbury) Management Ltd

The Russell Court heat network will benefit from over £235,000 of HNES support for a heat network in Camden serving 502 residents. The network has increasingly suffered from leaks, and other issues persist such as hot water delivery temperatures and inefficient pipework dating back to 1937. Funding will go towards alterations to pipework layout, pumping upgrades, an upgrade of the BMS, improved insulation, and TRV installations.

 

St James’ Court (Trowbridge) Management Company

The St James’ Court Trowbridge heat network, located in Wiltshire and serving 15 residents, will benefit from efficiency improvements thanks to £13,285 support from HNES. The network plant room is approaching end of life, the pipework and insulation is significantly degraded, and the corridor pipework is uninsulated. Improvements to the network supported through HNES include the installation of heat meters in each dwelling, a bulk heat meter to provide more precise operational data, and other efficiency measures.

 

Revenue Grant Funding

 

Revenue grant funding will help heat network owners/operators to undertake optimisation studies to review the performance of their heat networks and identify areas for improvement. Applicants may also choose to subsequently apply for capital grant funding to enact the recommendations provided by the study. In Round 10, over £1.2 million has been granted to 33 organisations, benefiting heat networks serving over 6,900 residents.

 

Housing Associations and Social Housing Providers

 

Adra Tai Cyfyngedig, for the Fron Deg and Pentra Uchaf heat networks in Gwynedd, serving 39 residents.

 

Aster Group, for the Hockney Green heat network in Test Valley, serving 17 residents.

 

Barnet Homes Limited, for the Grahame Park and Gadsbury Close heat networks in Barnet, serving 701 residents.

 

CHS Group Limited, for the George Pateman Court heat network in Cambridge, serving 39 residents.

 

Gloucester City Homes, for the Marian Court heat network in Gloucester, serving 132 residents.

 

Great Places Housing Group, for the Fernbank House heat network in Blackburn, serving 17 residents.

 

Home Group Limited, for the 9-52 Applegrove heat network in Luton, serving 56 residents.

 

Irwell Valley Housing Association Limited, for the Rock Bank heat network in Salford, serving 52 residents.

 

Karbon Homes, for the Delight Court and Towneley Court heat networks in County Durham, serving 63 residents.

 

London & Quadrant Housing Trust, for the Arc House, Aylesbury Phase 7, Meadowcroft Mews, Cowdrey Mews, and Roffo & Arments heat networks in Southwark, Greenwich, and Lewisham, serving 558 residents.

 

Notting Hill Genesis, for the Oaklands Rise, Perry Lodge, and Staples House & Pearl Close heat networks, serving 695 residents.

 

Orbit, for heat networks at later living schemes in Coventry, Dover, and Statford-on-Avon, serving 220 residents.

 

Platform Housing Limited, for the Denefields Court and Himbleton House heat networks in the Derbyshire Dales and Worcester, serving 95 residents.

 

Providence Row Housing Association, for the Daniel Gilbert House and Edward Gibbons House heat networks in Tower Hamlets, serving 122 residents.

 

Sutton Housing Partnership Limited, for the Collingwood Estate and Chaucer Gardens heat networks in Sutton, serving 377 residents.

 

The Guinness Partnership, for the Castle Ham Lodge, Lincoln Gardens, The Ridings, and Rockingham Gardens heat networks in West Devon and Bristol, serving 163 residents.

 

Local Authorities

 

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, for The Works heat network in Blaenau Gwent.

 

City of Westminster Council, for the Crawford Mansions, Avenue Gardens, Holcroft Court, and Dufours Place heat networks in Westminster, serving 706 residents.

 

Havering Council, for the Cole Court, Dell Court, and Charlbury House heat networks in Havering, serving 115 residents.

 

Kirklees Council, for the Springwood heat network in Kirklees, serving 117 residents.

 

Norwich City Council, for the Canterbury Place, Devonshire Street, and Black Horse Opening heat networks in Norwich, serving 577 residents.

 

Nottingham City Council, for the St Anns Phase 6 and 12, and Manvers Court heat networks in Nottingham, serving 737 households.

 

Oxford City Council, for Cardinal House, Albert House, and Bradlands heat networks in Oxford, serving 116 residents.

 

Sheffield City Council, for the Greenland Way and Hillside heat networks in Sheffield, serving 719 residents.

 

Health & Education

 

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, for a feasibility study into heat network improvements at St Thomas’ Hospital in Lambeth.

 

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for the JR & Churchill Heat Network Optimisation Study.

 

University of Bath, for The Quads student accommodation and the Library heat networks.

 

University of Liverpool Energy Company Limited, for the Main Campus heat network in Liverpool.

 

Private Sector

 

Mariner Point RTM Company Limited, for the Mariner Point heat network in Adur, serving 132 residents.

 

Charities

 

Brunel Care, for the Waverley Gardens heat network in Bristol, serving 128 residents.

 

The Whiteley Homes Trust Limited, for the Whiteley Homes Trust Sections A and GHJ heat networks in Elmbridge, serving 97 residents.

 

Other

 

Ministry of Justice, for the HMP Bristol heat network.

 

North London Muslim Housing Association Limited, for the Finsbury Grange heat network in Hackney, serving 130 residents.