Land South-East of
Angel Drove, Ely
Sustainability Statement for Planning Application
Client: Frontier Estates Ltd.
Status: Completed
OVERVIEW
JGC was engaged to provide technical input and support toward a planning application for a new mixed-use commercial development in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The scheme would look to provide new retail, hotel, and catering premises alongside shared car parking facilities. Working with the developer and planning consultant, JGC prepared the energy and sustainability statement in support of the application.
Key features of the recommended approach included an electric-only system for heating and hot water, opportunities to maximise the site’s solar PV potential, and facilities for electric vehicle charging. To enhance the scheme’s sustainability aspirations, a ‘zero gas’ strategy for heating and hot water was proposed for all commercial units. Heating and cooling would be supplied by air-to-water heat pumps or air-to-air variable refrigerant volume (VRF) systems, while hot water would be generated by high-temperature heat pumps or local point-of-use electric water heaters, depending on the relative demand in each building.
The proposed development’s large areas of unobstructed south-facing roof make it an ideal location to maximise on-site PV generation. High-capacity electric vehicle (EV) charging points could be installed throughout the scheme, with PV and EV infrastructure ideally suited for pairing in commercial retail parks with high vehicle density.
The project was submitted for planning in 2021 and remains under consultation with the local authority.