Cambridge City Council is getting ready to hold a second round of Preliminary Market Engagement meetings between 13 July and 14 August 2026 for the proposed City Centre District Heating Network.
Following initial soft market testing in Q1 2026, the Council is requesting all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with a second round of Preliminary Market Engagement on the contracting opportunity for Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance (DBOM) services, inclusive of metering and billing. Cambridge City Council is looking to procure a DBOM partner.
Contact details should be provided to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Supporting information will be provided upon registration, for consideration ahead of engagement meetings.
Since June 2023 Cambridge City Council has been working with consultants and academic partners to develop an Outline Business Case for a City Centre District Heating Network.
Detailed Project Development has now been completed, proposing a low carbon network using a combination of air source and river source heat pumps, supported by a transition to electric boilers from transitional gas boilers to supplement peak heat demand.
The work has been brought forward by a strategic partnership between Cambridge City Council as lead partner), 19 Academic institutions with significant heat demand in the city centre, and Cambridgeshire County Council.
20 Strategic Partners provide the customer base of the Minimum Viable Product heat network and following formal governance reviews, provided Letters of Support for the project's Green Heat Network Fund bid.
The heat network will be delivered by a Joint Venture Partnership, with investment from Strategic Partners. This supports the partnership's long-term ambition to expand this heat network across the city, with evidence of the significant expansion opportunity provided by an informal Heat Zoning Review that was completed in early 2026.
The Council will be represented by Amberside Advisors, who together with Buro Happold and Sustainability Co have provided specialist consultancy services for the DPD Study. Formal procurement is anticipated to begin Q3 2026 and remains subject to successful funding award from the Green Heat Network Fund.
Procurement is anticipated to include a two-stage appointment, firstly for Commercialization services through Early Contractor Involvement. Secondly, for DBOM services through the main contract, which is formalized by the end of 2027.
Final Investment Decision is scheduled for summer 2028. A phased 5-year period for up to 48 bulk heat supply connections is anticipated, with Phase 1 (2030-2033) and Phase 2 (2035-2037). Phase 1.1 heat network operation is targeted for 2030.
Current start and end estimated contract dates are 1 April 2027 to 30 January 2042.
Click here to download Outline Business Case, Cambridge City Centre Heat Network
Click here for more information
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