UK Power Solutions (UKPS), a Last Mile group company and one of the UK's leading multi-utility infrastructure providers, has been contracted by Wates Residential to deliver what will likely be a first-of-its kind ground source heat network for Cardiff.
UKPS specialise in the design and build of new connections for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments in the south of England, Midlands and South Wales.
The contract with UKPS will see the company and its subcontractor, Rendesco, deliver a low-emission ground source heat network comprising a centralised energy centre, 47 boreholes to extract renewable geothermal energy, and individual heat interface units in 235 new homes. Once construction at the 27-acre site is completed, Last Mile Heat will adopt and manage the network, transferring all operations away from Wates Residential and Cardiff Council to Last Mile’s expert team.
.Rachael Grierson-Gillespie, senior business development executive at UKPS, said:
“Our ground source heat network is projected to reduce carbon emissions for the development by up to 80% compared to traditional gas heating, and 54% compared to air source heat pumps. It will also deliver lower running costs and bills for residents, supporting regional goals to tackle fuel poverty.
“Solutions like this are crucial to delivering the affordable and sustainable housing the UK needs, and we’re proud to be involved with a project that demonstrates to councils and developers everywhere what’s possible with the right technology and financing.”
For Wates Residential, UKPS’s innovative asset value model was a key factor in the decision to award the contract. The developer will recover almost half of the capital costs of the heat network through forward-funded rebate payments, removing a potential financial barrier to choosing one of the lowest-emission heating technologies available. This approach – uniquely available through independent utility providers such as Last Mile – enables both Wates Residential and Cardiff Council to meet their ambitious sustainability targets while preserving budgets.
As of 27 January 2026, Ofgem formally regulates heat networks in the UK.
The new regulations are based upon the Heat Trust’s voluntary customer protection scheme that sets service standards for billing, support, and complaints.
Last Mile is regulation-ready, having already enrolled all of its 2,000 heat connections across 13 heat networks with the Heat Trust’s scheme. Last Mile Heat, a joint venture between Last Mile and Rendesco which owns, operate and maintain decentralised ground source heat networks, customised to each new development and complying with Heat Trust standards.
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