Installation of heat pump marks latest phase of Abney Park restoration project and step towards delivering Hackney’s Climate Action Plan
Work on a ground source heat pump, which will supply heating and hot water to a new cafe and a community space, began last week as part of the Abney Park restoration project.
The ground source heat pump works by absorbing natural heat from the ground and transferring the heat into buildings to provide heating and hot water in a low-carbon, energy efficient way. It will provide the park’s new cafe and community space with 100% of their heating and hot water all year round.
Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville was joined by Cllr Caroline Woodley, Cabinet Member for Families, Early Years, Parks and Play, to see the beginning of the installation process. He said:
This is a tremendous addition to the work being done to restore Abney Park to its former glory, improve accessibility and provide new facilities. Once again Hackney is taking the lead in proactively reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and a just transition to net zero.
At Hackney we’re always looking at ways to make our parks and buildings more sustainable. We know there’s a huge appetite from the community for our borough to become more energy efficient and the ground source heat pump is another big step towards reducing carbon emissions and tackling the climate crisis.
Restoration work at Abney Park started in October 2021, aimed at improving facilities, upgrading buildings and protecting the ecology of the site. The £5m project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund and Hackney Council. As well as the new café and work spaces at its main entrance, the restoration will bring Abney Park’s historic chapel back into use.
In addition to Abney Park, the Mayor and Cllr Woodley also visited the new water source heat pump that has recently been installed at West Reservoir Centre, part of ongoing work to make West Reservoir. Funded by the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the water source heat pump will reduce the centre’s heating-related carbon emissions and complement the already installed new solar panels.
The Abney Park restoration is being carried out in partnership with the Abney Park Trust and the Abney Park Trust. For information on grave searches, talks, tours and events at the park, please contact the Abney Park Trust, the charitable volunteer-led organisation that helps to maintain and increase interest in the park: https://abneypark.org/abney-park-trust
Notes
Abney Park, which covers 12.5 hectares between Stoke Newington Church Street and Stoke Newington High Street, is listed as a Grade II park and has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register since 1998. For more information about the Abney Park restoration project, visit: https://hackney.gov.uk/abney-park
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, the Fund inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities. www.heritagefund.org.uk
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