Policy information sourced from Enfield’s Edmonton Leeside Area Action Plan

EL26 The Meridian Water Heat Network

PART A: Developing the Meridian Water Heat Network

The Council supports the development of the Meridian Water Heat Network (MWHN). This will include safeguarding and securing:

  • The establishment of an energy centre on the EcoPark site;
  • A network route linking the EcoPark energy centre to the Meridian Water development; anD
  • Future connections towards other suitable developments, once they are identified.

The Council will continue to work with its partners and stakeholders to ensure that opportunities to establish connections across waterways, highways, railway land or private land interests allow for the future implementation of the MWHN.

Proposals for major developments which produce a significant amount of heat should supply heat to the MWHN or another DEN unless it can be demonstrated that this is not technically feasible or economically viable, in accordance with policy DMD 52.

PART B: The EcoPark Site and the MWHN

To facilitate the delivery of the MWHN, development of the EcoPark site should enable heat energy from the new energy recovery facility (ERF), when it is built to be captured and supplied to the MWHN energy centre, subject to a heat supply agreement being agreed. The DCO granted by the Secretary of State for the EcoPark site requires provision for combined heat and power.

Detailed safeguarding routes and the location for an energy centre should be agreed with the Council as part of pre-application discussions.

PART C: Creating a Resilient Network

Development proposals which are connecting to the MWHN must demonstrate how they would enhance the resilience of the MWHN and allow for provision of emergency back-up. This should include access to an area of hardstanding that could be used to park a truck mounted boiler and which is located a sufficient distance from any building with opening windows or inlet fresh air ventilation.

The Council will safeguard an “unobstructed” route for the MWHN pipe network along the Central Spine. “Unobstructed” here means a three metre wide zone with nothing built over it to a height of at least 10 metres.

PART D: Connecting to the MWHN

All major developments (defined as development of ten dwellings or more, or of more than 0.5 hectares in area) should connect to or contribute towards the MWHN or another existing or planned DEN supplied by low or zero carbon energy in accordance with Policy DMD 52. Where a major development is expected to be completed before the MWHN or another DEN is able to supply it with heat then:

  • If there are firm plans to enable the site to be connected to the MWHN or another DEN within five years, the development should design for heat network connection from the outset and use temporary on-site boilers (potentially provided by the heat network operator) until network connection is possible.
  • If there are no firm plans for extension of the MWHN or another DEN within feasible and viable range of the development, provision of on-site Combined Heat and Power (CHP, with standby boilers) will be expected where the heating demand makes it technically feasible and financially viable. The development should also be future proofed for connection to a heat network. In such instances the council may agree with the developer that the installation of CHP can be deferred for up to five years (the development would use heat from standby boilers during this time) to allow time for the MWHN or another DEN to be extended and connected to the development. If the developer connects to a network within five years then the requirement to install CHP would fall away; if not then the obligation to install CHP would be triggered.

This policy should be read in conjunction with Core Stragey policy 20 and DMD Policy 52, and London Plan Policies 5.5 and 5.6.

For more information please see the Edmonton Leeside Area Action Plan