Eco-friendly energy hub gets green light
Work will begin later this year on a research and training facility for green heating solutions, after city planners approved a University of Birmingham scheme to develop the next phase of Tyseley Energy Park.
The planned National Centre for Decarbonisation of Heat will support the delivery of low-carbon heating and energy systems, such as ground source heat pumps and energy efficient boilers.
Planned developments at the 21,000 sq ft building include office, training and workshop spaces – alongside a demonstration hangar which will include a “future house” demonstrating how energy-saving technologies could be retrofitted to existing residential properties.
The university-backed scheme will be built on part of the 15-acre former Webster and Horsfall cable manufacturing site, around three miles south east of Birmingham city centre.
The facility will be the second phase of developments for the University of Birmingham on the Tyseley Energy Park site following completion of the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre (BEIC) in 2021, which the university says will be “instrumental” in helping to realise the region’s energy innovation ambitions.
The two-storey building, on an adjacent pocket of land once occupied by now-demolished manufacturing workshops for the former wire-making plant, will mirror the BEIC footprint, according to designs submitted for the scheme by architects Glancy Nicholls.
“NCDH will support the delivery of innovative local energy solutions, which possess the potential to decarbonise the grid, support businesses and individuals to lower their costs and improve health outcomes,” said a spokesperson for Glancy Nicholls.
“The building will enable research collaboration and training in energy and heat networks, providing a space for testing new technology and training to assist the upgrade of heating solutions within the city’s existing housing stock.
“Works will commence on site later this year.”
The application was approved on Monday, January 5.
Documents relating to the scheme can be found on the Birmingham City Council planning portal under reference 2024/01459/PA.
