CLYDEBANK could become the “greenest town in Scotland” after plans were lodged for a new energy centre at Queens Quay, the £250 million regeneration project on the site of the former John Brown’s shipyard.
The proposed facility for the District Heat Network [DHN] will form part of the first phase of development and could serve the entire Queens Quay development site and beyond.
The 100% carbon free system is designed on a modular basis to allow expansion, with the ability to include the nearby Golden Jubilee Hospital as well as the wider Clydebank area. Within the energy centre water source heat pumps will extract water from the River Clyde, giving the system a direct link to natural resources.
The masterplan for the development of Queens Quay was approved last year by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC). The site is owned by Clydeside Regeneration Limited (CRL) with WDC part funding the development. Dawn Urban Regeneration is the development partner.
WDC will own, operate and maintain the entire heating system. The Scottish Government is providing £6 million of funding towards the system via its Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme with WDC covering the remaining £6 million.
Paul O’Donnell from Dawn Urban Regeneration said, “This development will be the first of many at Queens Quay to regenerate Clydebank’s waterfront. As well as being a fantastic start to the project, it also promises to create a legacy for the whole of Clydebank by tackling issues such as low carbon energy from entirely renewable sources, energy security and fuel poverty. This is the first time a system like this will be installed in Scotland and we are very excited about the prospect of getting started on site to bring this vision to fruition.
“The system harnesses the River Clyde’s latent energy which will distribute heat to existing and new communities in the area. It is a major development for Queens Quay and one that will benefit the residents and businesses of Clydebank and beyond for generations to come.”
The first phase of enabling works have now been completed on site. I & H Brown delivered the works which included excavating existing subsoils and segregating unsuitable materials before backfilling the excavations with materials recycled from elsewhere on the site. Other tasks included platforming sites to prepare the land for creation of the health quarter, which will contain a new £15 million care home and £25 million health centre.
The next stage of infrastructure works involving creating a new access road and utilities connections. Construction of the care home and health centre is due to start next summer. Subject to planning consent, construction of the energy centre is expected to commence in quarter 1 2018 following the completion of the contractor tender process.
Duncan Graham of Clydeside Regeneration Limited added, “The development offers an opportunity to open up an area of Clydebank which has been derelict for a number of years, whilst also creating much-needed housing and other amenities in a stunning location overlooking the Clyde.”
