'A blueprint' Scheme in Edwardian social housing aims to bust heat pump myths

Some of the earliest examples of purpose-built social housing in the UK can still be found tucked away along central London's more affluent streets.

- Jillian Ambrose

Built in Edwardian baroque style, the Sutton Dwellings in Chelsea are perhaps an unlikely site for a scheme at the new frontier of Britain's low-carbon journey.

This winter, more than 80 of the estate's flats will be warmed by heat pumps that tap the warmth of the earth well below the streets of central London.

The scheme's 27 boreholes burrow deep into the ground directly beneath the estate to where piped water is warmed and fed to a network of "shoebox" heat pumps in a cupboard in each flat. Here, each heat pump - roughly the size of a gas boiler - tops up the heat of the water pipes so that each household can control their own heating, setting it to their preference or using thermostats.

The scheme was completed in late autumn as part of a refurbishment of the more than 100-year-old block of flats. The developer, Kensa, has completed schemes across the south-east of England, installing shoebox heat pumps in 273 flats across multiple 1960s tower blocks in Thurrock, Essex, and in more than 400 flats across eight tower blocks owned by Enfield council. The Sutton Dwellings project proves that prewar housing can benefit too.

"Often you see claims heat pumps don't work, they aren't suitable for older buildings, there isn't enough space to install ground source heat pumps in cities," said Stuart Gadsden, the commercial director of Kensa. "Hopefully, this project can serve as a blueprint for other social housing providers with properties that need decarbonising."