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Decarbonising our buildings

Decarbonisation Study

A comprehensive Decarbonisation Study of our key assets was conducted in 2022. The study, led by APSE Energy and the Salvis Group, has conducted in depth site surveys of:

  1. Maidstone House
  2. The Link
  3. Town Hall
  4. The Archbishops Palace and Gate House
  5. Maidstone Museum
  6. Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre and Market Hall
  7. The Depot
  8. Vinters Park Crematorium and Offices
  9. Cobtree Golf Clubhouse
  10. Maidstone Leisure Centre

The study took a whole-building approach and has given recommendations to decarbonise each site in line with our 2030 Net Zero commitment. The recommendations include upgrades and retrofits to heating systems to ensure they have zero carbon/electric equivalents such as ground and air source heat pumps and solar thermal energy.  This also included recommendations for upgrading each building’s fabric and electrical equipment, such as wall and roof insulation, glazing, LEDs, smart controls for greater energy efficiency. The study additionally sought opportunities and tangible recommendations for onsite EV charging infrastructure and renewable energy generation from photovoltaic panels.

A decarbonisation road map will be developed, and priority buildings with the biggest carbon emissions will be prioritised and funding sought to make them net zero.

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) provides grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. Works being carried out as part of the project are planned to help reduce the Council’s emissions by 15% over the next few years.

We have successfully secured funding from the Government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, to help further the Council’s commitment to achieve Net Zero for its own operations by 2030.

We have been awarded a grant of £3.1 million, together with additional Council funding, which will be used to upgrade the Council’s main offices including Maidstone House and the Maidstone Link (based on King Street).

This latest funding will allow the Council to implement more carbon reduction measures in Maidstone House and The Link, helping to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, improve efficiency and save money that can be spent elsewhere o our services. The new carbon-cutting measures will include the installation of air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, solar panels to generate and create electricity, insulation for the entire seven-story building, all new windows and LED lighting to improve energy efficiency.

Works on Maidstone House and Maidstone Link funded by the PSDS aim to be completed by April 2025.

Maidstone Innovation Centre

The Maidstone Innovation Centre (MIC) is our newest building, offering state of the art facilities with flexible working space, offices, meeting rooms and conference facilities. Set over four storey's, the 37,000ft2 building’s design focuses on creating a positive work culture that inspires pride, energy, creativity and collaboration.

Environmental impact was a key concern during construction of the MIC. As part of Great Big Green Week 2022, a stunning ‘living wall’ was planted, which is one of the building’s green features, and comprises more than 10,000 plants. Covering 90.5m2, the wall will help to reduce the carbon footprint of the building by keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. It will also act as a natural sound insulator and oxygen released by the plants will assist with air purification. A stunning focal point, the wall incorporates a range of species indigenous to the local area, which will bloom all year round, attracting bees and butterflies.

The living wall is just one of many sustainable features of the MIC, which offers flexible office space to life science, healthcare and medical sectors, and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

The Little Green Energy Company, a Maidstone-based business, supplies and installs the industry's most advanced solar power technology, SunPower,  on the roof of the building, providing cleaner, more efficient energy.

Charging pods have also been installed for eight cars with capacity for a further three pods.

Environmental impact was also a key concern during construction. Contractors Rydon reported that 98% of waste was reused or recycled offsite and applied Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) processes, which ensures best practice for the environmental performance of buildings. As such, the MIC is on track to score a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’, putting it among the top 25% of buildings in the country.

To find out more about the Maidstone Innovation Centre or enquire about office space, please contact us.