DECARBONISATION PLANS, PSDS FUNDING APPLICATIONS & DETAILED DESIGN
WESTMORLAND & FURNESS COUNCIL
BACKGROUND
d3associates was originally tasked with the preparation of Condition Survey Reports, Decarbonisation Plans and LED designs for the top 25 carbon emitting buildings owned by Westmorland & Furness Council. These were completed to support the Council’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) Round 4 applications.
PSDS grants provide the funds for heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures for public sector bodies and are used to upgrade heating systems in public buildings so they can be cleaner, cheaper and powered by renewable energy.
Strong criteria to gain these funds and progress to detailed design stage include buildings with gas boilers that are over 10 years old. However, while heating is a priority in terms of PSDS funding, our ‘fabric first’ approach to decarbonisation means building fabric improvements are very much part of the overall plan.
With this in mind, the D3A team followed a clear path, considering draught-proofing, roof insulation, glazing, lighting, wall & floor insulation, heating and finally the specification of solar PV to generate electricity on-site with battery storage.
OUTCOME
Based on the recommendations made in our original Decarbonisation Plans, six buildings were successful in gaining funding to progress to detailed design stage.
These were:
• Appleby Leisure Centre
• Kendal Leisure Centre
• The Forum Theatre, Barrow
• Craven House, Barrow
• South Lakeland House, Kendal
• Kendal Market Hall
Using Appleby Leisure Centre as a key example, the detailed design included heat loss modelling, the specification and drawings for triple glazed windows and doors plus solar PV on the roof. We also detailed the insulation of the impressive arched roof. An air source heat pump was specified to replace the aged gas boiler.
On completion of the detailed design stage, we then carried out a Soft Market Testing exercise to gain more accurate costings for ongoing work.
Appleby Leisure Centre
South Lakeland House, Kendal
The Forum Theatre, Barrow
Craven House, Barrow
Kendal Market Hall
Kendal Leisure Centre
“The D3A team was easy to work with and unfazed by the differing stakeholders and inconsistency of information across the estate. The Decarbonisation Plans and Condition Surveys, were professionally written and easy to understand, they were delivered on time and edits were made quickly.
D3A were further hired for an additional three Decarbonisation Plans and to develop six buildings to detailed design stage and assist with a PSDS application, I would not hesitate to recommend them.”
– Alison Coward, Decarbonisation Project Manager, Westmorland & Furness Council