The deal represents a significant letting for Colchester not only in terms of size but also stature of tenant as a multinational organisation.
Month: July 2017
Colchester Borough Council’s Trading Board Agrees Creation of New Commercial Companies
The new commercial bodies will enable the Council to move forward with its stated social policies in housing and energy provision as well as with its other commercial ambitions designed to pursue more self-sufficient income generation, drive efficiencies in service delivery, and foster less reliance on diminishing funds from central government. The decision was taken against a challenging backdrop of continuing and increasing cost pressures from Government – with the Council confronting forecast reductions of £2.5m over the next three years that are expected to deepen year-on-year over the coming decade.
University of Essex Gains Top Gold Rating in Teaching Excellence Framework
The University of Essex is celebrating its recent TEF Gold rating from the UK Government. The TEF Panel judged that the University of Essex delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK. Out of the 134 higher education institutions who took part in the review, 43 are Gold, 67 Silver and 24 Bronze.
Colchester Institute’s ‘University Centre Colchester’ Gains Silver Rating in Teaching Excellence Framework
The University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute has been granted a Silver Award under the new TEF. The UCC received commendations for its teaching provision, specifically highlighting the personalised learning experience, student support, effective links with industry and excellent investment in industry standard learning resources maximising students’ employability.
University of Essex Wins Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year at The Times Higher Leadership & Management Awards
The University of Essex has picked up a prestigious excellence in education award at the Times Higher Leadership and Management Awards (THELMA)
University of Essex Academics Changing the World through their Research
The very best examples of how Essex research is having a positive impact on peoples’ everyday lives, were showcased at the University Research Impact Awards 2017.
Colchester based Ovivo Awarded £27m Contract for Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant
Colchester-based water treatment business Ovivo has been awarded a £27million contract to supply key components for EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear plant in Somerset. The deal will see the Essex firm design and supply the cooling water intake screening system that will filter the huge amounts of sea water required to cool the nuclear reactors. When completed it is expected to be the largest system of its kind in the world.
Work starts on £12m Stane Park development in Stanway, Colchester
Work has started on a new restaurant development to the west of Colchester town centre in Stanway. Developed by Churchmanor Estates the site will include a McMullen’s pub, Starbucks, KFC, Nandos and Bella Italia, and is due to open in August 2018. Churchmanor Estates has also pledged £350,000 to widen London Road at the Western Bypass junction in a congestion-busting measure.
Piping Hot: How Colchester is Feeding the Heat of Economic Growth
Colchester: Turning up the Heat
Colchester Borough Council is set to deliver a unique pilot project in the North of the Town. In the Northern Gateway regeneration area the Council is to showcase an ‘infrastructure first’ approach to build, by installing a heat network alongside Ultrafast Fibre Broadband – providing both low carbon heat and Gigabit connectivity to this new development.
Government funding from the Heat Networks Investment Pilot (HNIP) scheme has been key to unlocking this initiative, with the North Colchester Heat Network scheme being awarded £3.5m to help deliver the Heat Network in the area, making Colchester one of only nine schemes in the UK to have been awarded funding as part of this pilot project and the only scheme to look at using a water as a heat source via a water source heat pump.
What is a Heat Network?
District Heat networks supply heat derived from a central source to a network of two or more properties through a network of pipes. This means that individual homes and business do not need to connect to their own energy supply.
Colchester’s Preferred Way Forward
The preferred option for this scheme is an open loop water source heat pump system. This system makes use of the naturally occurring groundwater within the Aquifer (the water bearing aquifer layer) which is extracted from the ground via a borehole and then heated and pumped around the system before being returned at a lower return temperature to ensure the system is run at maximum efficiency.
Benefits of the Scheme
- Reduced energy cost to customers making it an even more attractive place for business to locate to
- Enabling a reduction in fuel poverty for residents
- Delivering higher carbon reduction compared to conventional heating systems
- Opportunity to generate a small income to help offset the impact of the withdrawal of Government grants to Local Authorities
Why a Heat Network?
The UK must reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and Colchester is one of the fastest growing areas in the East.
With an expected population growth from 180,420 to 193,806 residents by 2020, without implementing low carbon projects such as this, Colchester could see a potential increase in carbon emissions of 11% by 2020 compared to current levels. The delivery of a water source heat network enables the delivery of low carbon heat to residents and businesses in the Northern Gateway area.
To find out more email: Jan.warren@colchester.gov.uk and follow us on Twitter: @ColchBusiness
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Essex Chambers of Commerce moves to new offices at University of Essex campus in Colchester
Essex Chambers of Commerce has relocated its Colchester-based team to the Parkside Office Village at the University of Essex to help raise its profile.