Heat Decarbonisation Plan for Three Buildings

Oxford City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and organised a Citizen's Assembly on Climate Change. The City Council has since committed to achieve zero emissions across its estate and operations by 2030.

The 4th Carbon Management Plan (CMP) sets out the steps the Council will take to achieve this 2030 target, which equates to an approximate doubling of previous rates of carbon reduction, from 5% to 10% per year. This means an average annual reduction of absolute carbon emissions of c.526 tonnes CO2.

Government funding has been - and remains - critical to achieving the 2030 target. This includes funding from Salix's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which the Council is using to install heat pumps across four leisure centres and to invest in a local solar farm. Upon completion in March 2022, it is estimated that the PSDS programme will have reduced total emissions from the Council's estate and operations by 21%.

Another key funding stream is the Salix Revolving Loan Fund, which has resulted in an annual CO2 saving of c.2,000 tCO2/year since its inception. The Fund is undergoing a revision and shift the focus from energy efficiency to the decarbonisation of heat. The draft revised terms will be shared with the successful supplier.

The CMP identified the need for the Council to produce a Heat Decarbonisation Plan (HDP) for large emitting sites. The purpose of a HDP is to provide a clear roadmap to decarbonisation as well as fully costed, detailed assessments for future funding and budget bids. This specification is to provide a fully costed and comprehensive HDP for three Council buildings: the Town Hall (OX1 1BX), St Aldates Chambers Offices (OX1 1DS), and Barton Neighbourhood Centre (OX3 9LS).