The network, which uses heat recovered from non-recyclable domestic waste, offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil-fuel systems, helping businesses and residents transition to more reliable, affordable, and sustainable heating.
The expansion, which includes the South Bank area of Holbeck and Hunslet, follows the securing of £24.5 million in funding to extend the heating network. This investment is a key part of Leeds City Council’s strategy to become a zero-carbon city by 2030.
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By joining the Leeds PIPES network, Leeds College of Building is furthering its commitment to sustainability. Over 2,130 staff and students at the college’s North Street Campus will benefit from the new system. David Pullein, Vice Principal of Finance & Resources at Leeds College of Building, expressed enthusiasm for the move:
"We're delighted to join the Leeds PIPES network. With our old gas boilers only operating at 75% efficiency, switching to this low-carbon energy source will deliver significant benefits, including a 3,800-tonne carbon reduction over the next 20 years. This move will also bring the North Street Campus in line with our South Bank Campus, which already uses air source heat pumps and biomass pellets."
Pullein emphasised the importance of this change, calling it one of the college's largest environmental initiatives to date and a major step toward supporting both the institution's sustainability goals and Leeds' broader green vision.
The latest expansion will bring the total number of people benefiting from the Leeds PIPES district heating network to 8,000, making it the most significant single investment in the project to date. In 2023 alone, the network helped save 5,945 tonnes of carbon, a figure expected to grow as the network expands further. The project is led by Leeds City Council in partnership with Vital Energi.
