Work begins on Mersey Heat Network extension to connect iconic waterfront buildings
Thursday 19th February marked the start of construction on the Mersey Heat’s Phase 1C extension, bringing low carbon heating and hot water to three of Liverpool's most iconic waterfront buildings – the Cunard Building, George’s Dock Building and the Museum of Liverpool.
Representatives from The Peel Group, Ener-Vate, Vital Energi, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and National Museums Liverpool gathered at the construction site near the Cunard Building to mark the occasion.
The extension, developed by The Peel Group and district heat network specialist Ener-Vate, will add approximately 2km of pipework to the existing Mersey Heat network, connecting to the low carbon Energy Centre on Sherwood Street which opened in October 2025.
The project has secured approximately £2.2m of funding through the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and £3m through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) across the three buildings. Once complete, the extension is expected to save circa 8,600 tonnes of carbon emissions annually against gas.
The three buildings being connected to the network are among the most recognisable on Liverpool's waterfront. The Grade II* listed Cunard Building, one of the Three Graces at Pier Head, is home to Liverpool City Council. The Art Deco George’s Dock Building, designed by Herbert Rouse, houses ventilation machinery for the Queensway Tunnel while the Museum of Liverpool – part of National Museums Liverpool – welcomes nearly one million visitors a year.
Georges Dock Building and the Cunard Building are being connected to the network by October 2026, with the Museum of Liverpool following in March 2027.
David Tatton, Investment Director at The Peel Group, said: "Extending the Mersey Heat network to the Cunard Building, Georges Dock and the Museum of Liverpool demonstrates the growing appetite for low carbon infrastructure across the city. When we opened the Energy Centre last year, we always had ambitions to expand the network beyond Liverpool Waters, and today's groundbreaking shows that vision becoming reality. These are buildings that really matter to Liverpool and connecting them to the heat network will play an important part in the city's journey to net zero."
James Hadfield, Head of Project Development at Ener-Vate, said: "Connecting three of Liverpool's most recognisable waterfront buildings to the Mersey Heat network is a significant step forward for decarbonisation in the city. The public sector funding secured for this extension shows the confidence that government has in heat networks as a solution for reducing carbon emissions from existing buildings. We're looking forward to seeing the pipework go in over the coming months and getting these buildings connected."
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Lead for innovation, said: “Seeing Liverpool’s commitment to net zero progress to three of our key landmarks is a huge step forward in assuring a cleaner future, and a great example of how public and private sector can work together to do that.
“Liverpool City Council has already launched the procurement process for a new programme focused on an even wider area of the city centre. By developing an additional district heat network, we’re expanding access to affordable, reliable heating and helping more households escape fuel poverty. This is about scaling up what works—protecting residents and businesses from rising energy costs and making sure warm, healthy properties are the norm, not the exception.”
Cllr Anthony Burns, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Net Zero, said:
"This groundbreaking represents the realisation of a vision that began in 2023 - the ambition for a net zero Liverpool waterfront. The successful LCRCA Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme application was a critical step in turning that ambition into delivery, enabling major public buildings to join the Mersey Heat network. Today marks the first physical milestone in that long term plan.
"Connecting these landmark buildings is not only a technical achievement but a strategic one, demonstrating how the Combined Authority is helping unlock wider city decarbonisation. This is the start of a much larger transformation, and work is already underway to bring further buildings onto the network. The Combined Authority will continue to support these future connections and drive the expansion needed to achieve a truly net zero waterfront.”
Andrew Wightman, Regional Director at Vital Energi, said: “Having delivered the Mersey Heat Energy Centre last year, we're very pleased to be extending the network to serve these landmark buildings on Liverpool's waterfront. Heat networks are a proven solution for decarbonising existing buildings, and this extension will bring the benefits of the Mersey Heat system to some of the city's most important public sector sites.”
The Mersey Heat network already serves several buildings at Liverpool Waters, including commercial offices at Princes Dock, the Titanic Hotel, Tobacco Warehouse and Torus Housing's Hartley Locks development. The network harnesses heat from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal using one of the UK's largest two-stage water source heat pumps, distributing low carbon heat through over 6km of pipework.
Liverpool City Region was the first in the country to declare a climate emergency in 2019 and has set a target to achieve net zero by 2035.
For more information about the Mersey Heat network visit www.merseyheat.co.uk
