Changes made to £40m energy scheme after Uni decides to keep city site

Ambitious plans for a new £40m “heat network” would have seen an energy centre built on the former Beehive Mills site, off Thornton Road.

But the University, which owns the site, has now decided to hold on to the land, as it could play into its “future growth needs.”

Announced last year, the private sector development will see the construction of a new energy centre that uses using air source heat pumps to provide green heating measures to buildings that sign up as customers.

Work is currently underway laying the underground piping for the network at sites in the city centre.

City Hall, Bradford’s courts and the Alhambra are among buildings expected to be linked to the network.

The project is being carried out by Bradford Energy Network, a subsidiary of 1Energy.

When the plans were announced, the company submitted a planning application for the centre on the former Beehive Mills site.

But that application has now been withdrawn.

The former Beehive Mills site (Image: newsquest)

The Telegraph & Argus asked the reason for this, and received the following response from 1Energy: “After initial discussions with the University of Bradford, who own the site, it became clear that the University wishes to retain ownership at the current time.

“As a result, Bradford Energy Network has been in discussions to secure an alternative site for our energy hub to power the BEN.

“We are at an advanced stage of securing that site and will announce details as the deal is concluded.

“In the meantime, progress with the roll out of the pipe network in Bradford city centre is continuing to deliver net zero carbon heating and cooling.”

When asked why the University had decided to retain the derelict site, Steve Gilley, Director of Infrastructure at the University of Bradford, said: "The University is currently undertaking preliminary masterplanning and is developing its Infrastructure Strategy to support its future growth needs and, in light of this, it is considering what part Beehive Mills should play in its future development.

“At the moment we need to keep our options open and a sale of the site at this time might not be in the best long-term interests of the University."

In 2007, plans to build a £65m, 22 storey shopping and residential complex on the Beehive Mills site were approved by Bradford Council.

However, like many planned schemes in that area of the city, the development never materialised.