To support Gateshead Council’s decarbonisation plan with a pilot project to transition the first 16 of 600 properties from gas to the Gateshead Heat Network, also connecting a church and assisted living site along the route. Large trenches had to be excavated along a busy main road, as close as one meter from resident’s homes, so a solution was needed that ensured residents were kept safe and disruption was kept to a minimum. The overall aim was to make sure that the community had a positive experience of the transition to greener heat whilst successfully extending the existing heat network to more homes.
The team at PPSL carried out detailed design and route planning, along with trial holes, to find the most feasible route to achieve successful connections. We worked closely with Highways to minimise the impact to two local schools located on the same road, as well as taking part in extensive resident engagement. Health and Safety is at the forefront of all PPSL projects, but especially when residents’ gardens are within one meter of 1200mm deep excavations. As well as the pipework, PPSL took responsibility for the sizing, hydraulic assessment and also the pressure mapping of the new connections with our design partner Elevate Everywhere and installed fibre ducts for the future substation to be installed. PPSL also produced scaled drawings for the Heat Interface Units (HIU) cabinets and the pipework requirements to transition from pre-insulated to conventional pipework for the HIU connections. Every connection was made in collaboration with each resident, ensuring that they had safe access to their homes at all times. The PPSL team worked tirelessly to reinstate every garden to its original condition, spending time replanting trees, shrubs and even vegetables.
The project was completed on time – despite challenges of the route with numerous unchartered services. Hailed as a success by Gatesehead Energy Company, it is one of the first projects in the UK to place HIUs in outdoor cabinets – lowering the overall cost of the project and reducing any disruption to residents. The PPSL team gained valuable data and insight as to the best model for the installation of the remaining 600 properties in terms of cost-effectiveness for the client and in terms of public consultation with the local community.
We have recently used PPSL for connecting existing housing to our heat network and their professionalism and dedication throughout the project has ensured that the project has ran smoothly, even when inevitable bumps in the road as there are with any construction projects. PPSL have a detailed and focussed approach to work, across all areas of the project, whether this is financially, health and safety or in the planning stages. They have kept open and clear lines of communication, whether face to face, via email or phone, the whole project team have been kept up to date with progress and any issues have been raised immediately, with PPSL working with the project team in a solutions focussed way to ensure the best outcome for all involved.
PPSL have a strong customer focussed approach, and this goes beyond their direct relationship with us and spreads to our customers and stakeholders too, from local members to the end users of the heat network. Their support in the engagement aspects of the project has helped our projects to be successful, both from a construction aspects and operationally. On the ground, we have had nothing but positive feedback from residents who have interacted with PPSL whilst works have been underway, and PPSL ensure that residents and the general public are kept informed and most importantly, safe, during their works.
Belinda Humphrey
Energy Services Manager
Gateshead Energy Company
