Southwark Lib Dems Power Up Pioneering Energy Plans

10.15.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Jul 2006

Southwark's Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr Richard Thomas, tonight launched a pioneering plan to create one of the UK's greenest multi-use energy schemes as part of the £1.5bn regeneration of the Elephant & Castle in central London.

At a meeting of the Executive, Liberal Democrat and Conservative members of the coalition agreed to look for a partner for the scheme, which will create an unprecedented sustainable infrastructure by establishing a Multi Utilities Services Company (MUSCo).

The plan has been developed in line with the Liberal Democrat commitment to ensure the regeneration is completed with no increase in carbon emissions, despite a 270% increase in floor space.

The MUSCo will provide locally generated heat, cooling and electricity for the thousands of extra homes and businesses. The plan will include:

· Use renewable energy sources and combined heat and power

· Connect the entire development with a high bandwidth fibre optic cable network, enabling energy management, intelligent building technology and the next generation of entertainment and connectivity for residents and businesses

· Supply 'green' water extracted via boreholes from an underlying chalk aquifer for non-drinking water uses, such as toilet flushing and irrigation

· Provide automated waste management

Commenting on the groundbreaking plans, Cllr Richard Thomas, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

"This scheme will set new standards in green development and goes way beyond anything we have previously seen in the UK."

"We have a unique opportunity to build this level of sustainability into our plans for the Elephant &Castle and we have looked to a number of European cities where successful schemes are already in place."

"Such a pioneering scheme in the heart of London should be a beacon for showing how building new homes and businesses can be compatible with protecting the environment."