Heating for Bildeston
We're a group of like-minded Bildeston residents who've come together to plan heating for the village into the net zero future. We've been awarded a £33,000 RCEF grant for the production of a feasibility study.
Who We Are
Gordon Mehrtens: Early Retired CFO of both Petrochemical and Renewable Energy Companies as well as start-ups in the Bio-Based Plastics and Energy from Waste fields.
Chris Coultas: Active Construction Design Manager with civil engineering background. Experience working on domestic, commercial and industrial developments utilising various renewable technologies and low carbon construction methods such as Passivhaus.
Steve Nuttall: 36 years in the life insurance industry, including financial management, risk management and structured financing arrangements. More recently involved with voluntary activities including adviser at Citizens Advice Bureau and treasurer at Semer Village Hall.
Ashley Bruce: Considerable multi-media experience, mainly directing documentaries for television broadcast and for agencies such as UNEP and the EU, specialising in environmental and development issues.
Mike Tuck: Award winning, Chartered Chemical Engineer with over forty years experience in the development, design and commercialisation of innovative technologies in the petrochemical and green chemistry industries.
Helen Carey: Tax Consultant. Small business owner and wide experience of working with businesses of all sizes and deep insight into the practical and financial issues faced in setting up and operating new ventures.
Shaun Moffat: DipM MCIM MIMC 30 years in marketing and PR and 10 years in Third Sector. Chair of Bildeston Community Support and Bildeston Foodbank
Deborah Saw: Advised organisations from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, charities to government departments on reputation management and stakeholder engagement
Alison Wilson: Design and Technical Advisor in public sector with extensive experience in procurement and construction delivery within both public and private sectors.
Tim Hooper: 40 years Procurement & Supply Chain experience in the automotive and aviation sectors. Most recently headed Utility procurement, including Airport PV scheme strategy, specifically sourcing and planning approval for a 14MW PV scheme at Stansted Airport.
Andrew Sturgeon: Background in farming. Keen for Lindsey to partner with Heating Bildeston.
Precedence
This is among the very first projects from our region. Success will provide a blueprint for financially viable community heat networks and encourage other community groups and parish councils to rally themselves and develop ideas for their own projects.
The reduced combustion of fuels together with the decrease in delivery vehicle traffic will lead to an improvement in air quality and further enhance Bildeston as a greener, cleaner place to live for all residents including those who do not participate in the scheme.
Expert Team
We have a chosen a team of experts that is -
'a leading low carbon consultancy, specialising in the renewable energy sector. Our work is focused around three core activities: impact research, consultancy services to communities, local energy development and international energy access. Our team is skilled and experienced in project management; renewable energy engineering; environmental assessment; planning; consenting; community engagement; project finance; legal structures in the renewable energy sector; and is able and committed to undertake the work in full. As a social enterprise, we invest a share of our profits into community energy projects'.
Inter-acting with you
Community engagement drives all decisions and actions we take. Only with the support of the village can our project provide clean, green heating into the net zero future.
Among the first of our Supporters
“I’m proud to have supported Heating Bildeston right from the outset. I’ve long thought we urgently need a zero carbon, low pollution solution to provide heating to Suffolk villages and
I hope Heating Bildeston will become an exemplar project that other communities can follow..”
Robert Lindsay, Babergh and Suffolk County Councillor for Bildeston
After specially visiting us in Bildeston, to find out more, James said “I heartily support this innovative project and wish it every success.”
James Cartlidge MP for South Suffolk
“Heating Bildeston” shows that there are some people who, instead of just talking about climate change are actually prepared to do something about it.
The terrifying cost of fuel has added an enormous impetus to the project and will make the financial argument an imperative.
The really exciting thing is that it is in our village, Bildeston, will be trail blazing!
James Buckle, Heathpatch Limited, Semer and a Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk
Supporter
Fiona Duhamel, Co-ordinating contact with Suffolk local authorities
Testimonials
from Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Heating Bildeston met with a representative from BEIS Heat Networks Delivery Unit regarding grant funding and from the information provided they were confident that Heating Bildeston met the minimum requirements to make a strong application for grant funding to further explore the low-zero carbon heat network at Bildeston. HNDU offer 67% grant funding towards heat network studies (project sponsor to match fund the remaining 33%), 100% funding towards external project management and stakeholder engagement. HNDU have offered their support with the application process and are happy to be contacted if the Council wish to do so. - Tharina Conradie, HNDU
from New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
Myself and others at the LEP would be happy to help progress the project for Bildeston, and to help develop the ground for several similar projects to Bildeston that have received RCEF stage 1 support. I believe scale of project and consequent procurement power will be vital to such projects across Suffolk and Norfolk. The LEP and other partners, such as the local authorities and the Greater Net Zero Hub can assist in achieving collaborations that benefit all projects.
- Iain Dunnett, Senior Growing Places Fund Coordinator LEP
Endorsement by Bildeston Parish Council
Supporters:
Chris Knock
- Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council
Shanker Patel - CEO Lords Group Builders Merchants, legal training
Richard Buckingham - Climate Change and Carbon Manager, Anglian Water
Robert Lindsay - Suffolk County Councillor and Babergh District Councillor
James Buckle - Landowner and innovator in circular economy in the Bildeston area, owner of the Bildeston Crown Hotel and Restaurant
Fiona Duhamel - Assistant Director Economic Development and Regeneration, Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils
Reverend Elke Cattermole - Rector Brett Valley Benefice
Louise Bissett - Head of admin and facilities, Bildeston Health Centre
Louise Coll - School Governor, Bildeston Primary School
