Public consultation on Grace Road energy centre

Exeter City Council is inviting the public to comment on the proposed disposal of approximately 1.8 hectares of land at Grace Road Fields, Clapperbrook Lane East, Marsh Barton, for the development of an energy centre as part of the Exeter Energy Network.

The proposed energy centre will be located between Marsh Barton railway station and the Exeter Ship Canal, on land that was previously used as a laydown area during the construction of the station. Following an assessment of 14 potential sites across the city, the Grace Road site was selected as the most suitable for the energy centre.

Heating properties and industry accounts for 37% of the UK’s carbon emissions, most of which come from fossil fuels. Developing sustainable heating systems is essential for achieving the UK’s legally binding 2050 net-zero target.

The Exeter Energy Network is a heat network supplying low-carbon heat to buildings in central Exeter, allowing the city to make significant strides toward meeting this goal.

The Grace Road Energy Centre will generate low-carbon heat from a variety of sources, including heat pumps and waste heat from a data centre and the adjacent Energy Recovery Facility. Connecting buildings to this centralised energy centre will:

- Eliminate the need for individual gas boilers

- Improve air quality with less reliance on imported fossil fuels

- Help Exeter achieve its net-zero target by 2030

This more efficient and eco-friendly method of heating buildings is already successfully used in many countries around the world, as well as across the UK.

The proposed energy centre site was chosen for several key reasons:

- Proximity to low-carbon energy sources, including waste heat from the Energy Recovery Facility, a council-owned solar farm, and the River Exe, which could provide renewable energy.

- The site is located adjacent to the Marsh Barton Trading Estate, fitting well into the area’s existing light-industrial context.

- The land is designated for strategic mixed-use allocation in the emerging Local Plan.

- The site provides a practical route to connect the energy centre to the city via a network of underground hot water pipes and is close to proposed housing developments that will require low-carbon heating systems.

The development will be sensitive to the local environment, with mature trees along the canal towpath obscuring views into the site. Additional tree planting will be part of the development.

A planning application will include views of the energy centre from multiple vantage points, and the project will work closely with stakeholders to ensure the development is in harmony with the surrounding area.

The project will increase biodiversity around the site by 20%, twice the statutory requirement, in collaboration with partners like Exeter City Council and Devon Wildlife Trust. By helping businesses transition away from gas boilers, the heat network is expected to save 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, contributing to Exeter’s leadership in tackling the climate emergency.

The site is located within a category 3 flood zone, and special measures are being taken to ensure that the energy centre will not increase flood risk. Critical elements of the centre will be raised above flood levels, and it will be designed to operate unstaffed during flood events, continuing to provide heat to Exeter’s customers.

The public is encouraged to view the plans, available on the Council’s website, here, or by request via email at estates@exeter.gov.uk or phone at 01392 265162.

Feedback must be submitted in writing by 5pm on 31 December 2024, either by post to The City Surveyor, Exeter City Council, Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 1JJ, or via email.

Plans for the proposed site, including a site plan and an illustrative aerial view, can be downloaded from the website. If users require the information in an accessible format, they are encouraged to contact the Council at info@exeter.gov.uk.