Cherwell District Council has granted Heat Upper Heyford's outline planning permission 
 

Heat Upper Heyford & Upper Heyford Parish Council & Upper Heyford Parish Alltoments are delighted to announce that Cherwell District Council has granted outline planning permission for the small energy centre which will supply heat to the village. 

 

It is important to note that while this is excellent news we are a while away from having spades in the ground and the project physically starting.  This response means that Cherwell District Council has been satisfied that we have answered the points they raised. 

 

Schemes like this require a huge amount of detailed analysis, technically complex engineering design alongside tight legal and governance structures to manage the energy supply and maintenance of the system.

 

In the UK Low Carbon Rural Heat Networks are a relatively new technology and depend on organisations who are interested in the longer term vision of community heating. Swaffham Prior is the first scheme like it to be realised UK.  Organisations who socialise the costs of electricity, who include renewable energy generation as part of their heating solution and who work to secure tariffs which are affordable over the longer term for residents of their communities.

 

We believe passionately in the need for our communities to take initiative, to innovate and to take responsibility to reduce our reliance on carbon. 

 

As a partnership of village voluntary organizations we are delighted that Cherwell District Council is supportive of these plans. The outline planning permission enables us to continue to develop our project with the fantastic support we’re receiving from SIB (the Social investment business), who are connecting our scheme, and others like this in the UK, introducing us to experts who are passionate, knowledgeable and skilled in the areas we need support, and sharing learning and resources across these projects. 

 

Projects like this take time, creativity and tenacity. They also rely heavily on the vision and generosity, and determination of the volunteers involved. (Particular mentions must go to Andy Meaney, Chris Coe and Neill Brody) 

 

If you are think you might like to get involved and volunteer in this exciting, and potentially ground-breaking project email heatupperheyford@gmail.com 

 

We are particularly interested in people who are good at comms and social media finance and governance backgrounds. Although our preference is that you live locally, we are open to involvement from passionate people further afield. 

 

And lastly a few thank yous - to Sandy our consultants Scene who have worked tirelessly on the phase 2 report and planning application. 

 

And to Gen, Adam, Selma and Dan from SIB for their positive energy, enthusiasm and skills. SIBs support has been light a ray of sunshine, their can-do attitude about overcoming challenges with creativity and community support has been integral in the realization of this project to this stage. 

 

Our project has made national news! Read the BBC article here

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Heat Upper Heyford remain committed to 4 principles 

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• Provide the same temperature of hot water and central heating as your existing oil or gas boiler at the same, or less cost.

• Provide a sustainable and reliable supply of renewable heat energy for decades to come.

• Help to cut the carbon footprint of the village contributing towards the UK’s 2050 Carbon Neutral goals.

• Help to reduce or remove fuel poverty in the village