Environment and sustainability

Energy and climate 

South East London Combined Heat and Power 

In 2013, Southwark Council and Veolia agreed to construct a district heating network (DHN) connecting the South East London Combined Heat and Power plant (SELCHP) with four council estates in Bermondsey. Providing “heat from waste”, the DHN provides low carbon heat as the waste that SELCHP burns are considered a renewable energy source. Heat supplied by the DHN is also cheaper than gas heating, helping reduce fuel poverty. The DHN now supplies heat to around 2,700 homes, cutting CO2 emissions by around 7,700 tonnes per year and also significantly reducing NOX gases. 

We've been working for the past two years to test the viability and feasibility of extending the DHN into the Old Kent Road area, and down to North Peckham. It has the potential to connect 3,000 council homes as well as new development, including the Tustin Estate and Ledbury Estate. Our feasibility study suggests that connecting this development to district heating could reduce CO2 generated by heating and hot water by as much as 89% over the course of 25 years. Construction on the DHN is due to start in 2023. 

Local Development Order

In order to grant planning permission for the DHN, the council is preparing a Local Development Order (LDO). Local Development Orders grant permission for a specified type of development, which means a planning application is not needed. They are prepared by Local Planning Authorities who have the right to apply conditions on the LDO to ensure that the development is acceptable in planning terms. As part of the preparation for the LDO, an archaeological desk based assessment ^{(PDF, 8.7mb)} has been undertaken to identify areas that may be of archaeological interest within the area and to ensure the appropriate measures are taken to protect and preserve any archaeological remains during construction.

Energy and Carbon Reduction Strategy 

Our Energy and Carbon Reduction Strategy (2011) ^{(PDF, 241kb)} sets out how the council will take energy efficiency and minimise carbon dioxide emissions in our of our building stock and in all the work we carry out. 

Page last updated: 01 June 2023