Bristol City Council has granted planning permission for the Bath Road Energy Centre, marking the latest milestone in Vattenfall’s expansion of the Bristol heat network—an energy system that aims to deliver low carbon heating and hot water to thousands of homes and businesses.
A catalyst for city-wide change
At 13MW, Bath Road Energy Centre will be the largest all-electric district heating energy centre in Bristol. A stone’s throw from Temple Meads, it will act as the engine room for one of the UK’s biggest urban regeneration schemes, the Bristol Temple Quarter development.
Within this development, the new energy centre will supply heating and hot water to over 7,000 homes, cutting carbon emissions by 65% compared to traditional gas boilers.
This infrastructure will unlock a low carbon future for Bristol, providing buildings in the city centre with access to a long-term, future proofed decarbonisation solution, reducing the need to burn fossil fuels to heat homes and buildings in Bristol.
Dom Barton, Director of Heat Networks – Bristol, Vattenfall
Creating a new civic landmark
Heavily influenced by Bristol’s industrial heritage and the local Byzantine style, our design features arches and vertical rhythms to invoke an aesthetic that is at once contemporary and deeply rooted in its context.
The result is a building that contributes positively to the city’s visual identity—celebrating its purpose rather than hiding it. One that proves infrastructure can reach beyond utility to be both beautiful and iconic.
The design, articulation and materiality of the proposed development have been carefully conceived and clearly interprets the character of the area, defined by the railways yards and sidings that prelude the Grade I station complex. This is a contextual design response and also a very distinctive and individual building, partially steered by the design brief for its use.
Stephen Guy, Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas, Historic England
Powering the future
Vattenfall’s vision is for over half of all Bristolians living, working and learning in the city to be kept warm by the Bristol heat network by 2050. By installing and operating this critical energy infrastructure, the heat network will help to make sustainable heating and hot water a part of everyday life.
The Bath Road Energy Centre is more than just a utility building; it’s a statement of intent for Bristol.
James Horner, Head of Technology & Innovation, Stride Treglown
