Bishop’s Castle Heat Network
Bishop’s Castle in south Shropshire is not on the gas grid, so most of the heating comes from oil and LPG. Funded by a grant received from Power to Change , STCE commissioned consultants from Sharenergy and Carbon Alternatives to find a renewable energy solution for the town in collaboration with Lightfoot Enterprises, a local environmental charity.
In early 2024 the Bishop’s Castle Heat and Wind project project was awarded a substantial Community Energy Fund (CEF) grant to carry out further studies. The project includes ecology and technical studies, and obtaining ’expressions of interest’ from the town’s householders, organisations and businesses – including the Community College and SpArC, who wish to be connected to the heat network.
In January 2025, after over 3 years of effort, a planning application for the erection of a 1MW wind turbine was submitted to Shropshire Council.
The proposal has unanimous backing of the Town Council, and huge local support. Public meetings have been held in the town, including one attended by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall which featured on Channel 4s Great Climate Fight in Nov 2023.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall speaking at the Town Forum
See Lightfoot Enterprise’s website for more information on this project.
A video of The Climate Show with Tom Heap which goes into more detail about the Swaffham Prior Heat Network is available here.