Residents moving into the new affordable homes at Seaham Garden Village are now benefitting from clean, sustainable and reasonably priced heating, powered by water from abandoned coal mines beneath their feet.
Working in partnership with The Mining Remediation Authority, Vital Energi and Durham County Council the affordable homes from Karbon Homes, built by lead construction partner Esh Group, are now connected to what is the UK’s first large-scale mine water heating projects, harnessing the mine water treated at the Dawdon mine Water Treatment Scheme in Seaham.
On completion, all 750 homes from Karbon will be connected to the low carbon system.
Sarah Robson, Executive Director of Development and Asset Management at Karbon Homes, said: “Seaham Garden Village is a thriving new community with sustainability at its heart. We are delighted to be working with partners on this innovative mine water heating project, which will provide affordable heating for our customers by utilising the heat of the water available right under our feet.
“In addition, our homes are built to the highest energy standards which includes solar panels, battery storage and EV charging points which also help to make the homes cheaper to run.”
This is the latest mine water heat network to go live in Great Britain, making use of mine water that’s already being pumped to the surface. With an estimated 25% of UK homes and businesses located above former coal mines, it’s a significant step forward in repurposing the region’s industrial heritage to benefit the people who live there today.
Mine water is naturally heated by geothermal processes deep underground and maintains a stable temperature year-round. The new energy centre at Dawdon uses heat exchangers and a heat pump to extract and boost this heat and distribute it through a district network.
This delivers consistent, low-carbon heating and hot water to residents, helping protect families from volatile energy prices.
Rob Callaghan, Managing Director at Vital Community Energi, said: “I am proud that Seaham Garden Village will operate under our complete Energy Services Company (ESCo), marking another significant milestone in the expansion of our owned and operated heat networks. As with all our ESCo projects, customers remain our top priority. That is why we have ensured residents benefit from stable and efficient heating and hot water, delivering lasting benefits into a community directly affected by the closure of the mines.”
Granted garden village status by the government in 2019, the new heating system will power half of the 1,500 homes on Seaham Garden Village which will be built over the next ten years.
Aswell as sustainability and reliability, it also brings environmental benefits, with an estimated saving of 2,600 tonnes of CO2 annually, equating to nearly 65,000 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided over 25 years.
The heat network received funding through the government's Heat Networks Investment Project.
Andrew Simpson, Head of Innovation, By-Products and Services Delivery at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: "It is exciting to see our Dawdon mine water treatment scheme successfully transition to dual use. This project is proof of how innovation and partnership can unlock clean, affordable heating for communities today. It also shows how geothermal energy from disused mines can be replicated across the country.”
The 750 homes from Karbon are being developed for affordable tenures. The first 50 completed homes are now occupied, with the next phase due for hand over from Esh in the coming months.
Mark Binns, Operations Director at Esh Construction, said: “This is another significant milestone for Seaham Garden Village and a testament to the collaborative effort behind the development. With residents now living in the first 50 homes and further phases progressing on site, it is rewarding to see this innovative energy solution begin to deliver tangible benefits.
"By combining sustainable construction with pioneering low-carbon heating technology, we are helping to create homes that are more energy efficient, more affordable to run and built for the future.”
The completed homes and those currently under development by Karbon are part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing and regeneration agency under its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021-26.
Residents moving into the new affordable homes at Seaham Garden Village are now benefitting from clean, sustainable and reasonably priced heating, powered by water from abandoned coal mines beneath their feet.
Working in partnership with The Mining Remediation Authority, Vital Energi and Durham County Council the affordable homes from Karbon Homes, built by lead construction partner Esh Group, are now connected to what is the UK’s first large-scale mine water heating projects, harnessing the mine water treated at the Dawdon mine Water Treatment Scheme in Seaham.
On completion, all 750 homes from Karbon will be connected to the low carbon system.
Sarah Robson, Executive Director of Development and Asset Management at Karbon Homes, said: “Seaham Garden Village is a thriving new community with sustainability at its heart. We are delighted to be working with partners on this innovative mine water heating project, which will provide affordable heating for our customers by utilising the heat of the water available right under our feet.
“In addition, our homes are built to the highest energy standards which includes solar panels, battery storage and EV charging points which also help to make the homes cheaper to run.”
This is the latest mine water heat network to go live in Great Britain, making use of mine water that’s already being pumped to the surface. With an estimated 25% of UK homes and businesses located above former coal mines, it’s a significant step forward in repurposing the region’s industrial heritage to benefit the people who live there today.
Mine water is naturally heated by geothermal processes deep underground and maintains a stable temperature year-round. The new energy centre at Dawdon uses heat exchangers and a heat pump to extract and boost this heat and distribute it through a district network.
This delivers consistent, low-carbon heating and hot water to residents, helping protect families from volatile energy prices.
Rob Callaghan, Managing Director at Vital Community Energi, said: “I am proud that Seaham Garden Village will operate under our complete Energy Services Company (ESCo), marking another significant milestone in the expansion of our owned and operated heat networks. As with all our ESCo projects, customers remain our top priority. That is why we have ensured residents benefit from stable and efficient heating and hot water, delivering lasting benefits into a community directly affected by the closure of the mines.”
Granted garden village status by the government in 2019, the new heating system will power half of the 1,500 homes on Seaham Garden Village which will be built over the next ten years.
Aswell as sustainability and reliability, it also brings environmental benefits, with an estimated saving of 2,600 tonnes of CO2 annually, equating to nearly 65,000 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided over 25 years.
The heat network received funding through the government's Heat Networks Investment Project.
Andrew Simpson, Head of Innovation, By-Products and Services Delivery at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: "It is exciting to see our Dawdon mine water treatment scheme successfully transition to dual use. This project is proof of how innovation and partnership can unlock clean, affordable heating for communities today. It also shows how geothermal energy from disused mines can be replicated across the country.”
The 750 homes from Karbon are being developed for affordable tenures. The first 50 completed homes are now occupied, with the next phase due for hand over from Esh in the coming months.
Mark Binns, Operations Director at Esh Construction, said: “This is another significant milestone for Seaham Garden Village and a testament to the collaborative effort behind the development. With residents now living in the first 50 homes and further phases progressing on site, it is rewarding to see this innovative energy solution begin to deliver tangible benefits.
"By combining sustainable construction with pioneering low-carbon heating technology, we are helping to create homes that are more energy efficient, more affordable to run and built for the future.”
The completed homes and those currently under development by Karbon are part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing and regeneration agency under its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021-26.
More news
The Great Supported Housing Bake Off
Residents and colleagues across our supported housing schemes have been showcasing their baking talents and raising vital funds through Macmillan Coffee Mornings.
Don't pay twice: Your heating system servicing may already be covered