Plans have emerged for the construction of a new low-carbon energy centre in Hull city centre.
The site of the proposed energy centre, on the A165 near North Bridge, is currently a council-owned car park next to Napoleons Casino & Restaurant. Before being demolished in 2013, it was home to a council registry office.
The planning statement, which has been submitted on behalf of Hull City Council, states the centre’s design “is focused on the principle of providing an expandable, and future proofed infrastructure to deliver decarbonised, secure, and affordable energy to the wider city”.
The proposed energy centre would stand 11m tall, housing water source heat pumps, a boiler room, and a transformer. The site would usually remain unoccupied, however a number of parking spaces at the rear to the site, accessible from Carroll Place, would be used when operators are on site.
The plans states the intention is to make the energy centre “a new landmark that contributes to the city’s identity” by integrating seating and attractive planters along the side of the building next to the main road.
A noise assessment of the plans concluded that, despite its city centre location, there would be “no adverse operational noise impact” caused by the proposal.
The site would form part of the Hull District Heat Network which seeks to provide low carbon heat to the city through a network of pipes used to transport hot water. District Heat Networks are already in place in a number of UK cities, such as London, Glasgow, and Manchester.
By: Andrew Spence, LDRS
