Colindale Gardens London

A significant district heating network in NW9.

Metropolitan manages and operates the energy centre and district heating network at Colindale Gardens, under a 25-year Energy Services Agreement.

  • 4,000 new homes
  • Nine acres of open space
  • Studio apartments to four-bedroom townhouses
  • Shops and restaurants
  • Health centre
  • Primary school
4,011

Number of apartments connected to the district heat network when fully built

1,061

Number of existing customers Metropolitan took on when the system was adopted

25 years

Length of the ESCo contract

Entrance view of Colindale Gardens

District energy network

The energy centre houses a 1.6MWe Gas CHP Engine, three shell and tube gas boilers, three condensing gas boilers, and has thermal storage of 100,000 litres. The development was already part-occupied at the time the district heating network was handed over and Metropolitan welcomed around 1,000 existing customers.

Careful Coordination

As soon as the preferred-bidder appointment was made, Metropolitan mobilised its engineering and adoptions team to work extensively with Redrow’s contractors. With the network including different types of Heat Interface Units and meters, there was a great need for flexibility and attention to detail. Metropolitan’s team worked with the existing meter and billing provider to ensure a smooth handover and established remote monitoring through its own control room, prior to adoption.

Tender process

Metropolitan secured the contract via a comprehensive, tender exercise demonstrating the experience and track-record required, based on its growing portfolio of district heating schemes in London. Redrow and its consultants visited Metropolitan’s sites including Hallsville Quarter, where experience of high-volume adoption was shown through Metropolitan having taken on 600 existing customers.

Phased approach

The Colindale network was originally served by a temporary energy centre, with the permanent replacement now in use. Initially it will operate on three of the six gas boilers, with the remaining three being preserved until they are needed, as each phase of the development is completed and occupied. Metropolitan advised on the ‘mothballing’ process and will be available to offer expertise as each additional boiler is commissioned, as well as assisting with the ongoing CHP commissioning.

Making connections

The electricity network for Colindale Gardens was provided by Metropolitan’s sister company, Power On Connections. This too was a major project, which involved excavations under the Northern Line tube link.

Adoption

This level of adoption takes a great deal of planning and organisation. Metropolitan naturally has a long-term invested interest since it is taking on full responsibility over an extended term – including all maintenance and replacement. Redrow and heat customers benefit from Metropolitan’s diligent adoption process, a system which is safe, efficient, and robust.

Colindale Gardens

Customer service

Metropolitan has an in-house team dedicated to customer service, who undertake a wide range of tasks. For this scheme, a large volume of data was provided by the existing meter and billing company, which had to be validated, including meter references and meter readings. Metropolitan communicated with heat customers prior to and following handover. Other stakeholders were met, including Private Rental companies and Housing Providers, to confirm mutual responsibilities and processes for ongoing customer service, including planned maintenance and emergency response. Metropolitan is supporting Redrow sales staff for future residential units as further blocks are completing in 2020 and beyond. The site has been registered with The Heat Trust.

We’re pleased to have appointed Metropolitan as the energy services company at Colindale Gardens, our flagship London scheme. They will be a long-term partner on the project and have already demonstrated their professionalism and quality customer service.

Paul Muldowney,
Managing Director, Redrow Greater London Region