The iconic estate in South Hampstead [Oxyman]

THE Town Hall has proposed to replace a South Hampstead estate’s communal heating system with gas powered radiators this year – but climate-conscious residents are demanding a greener alternative.

They are concerned that replacing gas with gas on the Alexandra and Ainsworth estate in South Hampstead – also known as Rowley Way – is a “retrograde step” in a climate crisis.  Camden is planning double-glazing and a move to swap gas-fired communal heating with individually operated gas radiators. These would then be replaced by another heating source in 2040.

A model flat was shown to residents in July 2022.

Rowley Way’s heating subcommittee member Zoe Davenport told the New Journal that she was “gobsmacked” that Camden is not putting forward a better plan that is more environmentally friendly.

“They’ve known climate change was coming,” she said. “They haven’t considered underfloor heating; they dismiss things like air source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, all those things because they are too complicated to install. They haven’t investigated proper insulation.”

Tom Muirhead, who is also on the sub-committee, said: “There is a problem about maintaining the existing system which requires constant repair all the time. It’s expensive and we do understand that.

“But we don’t think they should replace it with an antiquated system that wouldn’t save energy. There’s no proposal to insulate the building at all apart from fitting a bit of double glazing.

“We’re in the age of retrofit. People are retrofitting buildings all over the place. We think it’s time for Camden to find a way to work with us to develop a sustainable heating system that doesn’t burn gas and that is based on saving energy by insulating the building as much as possible.”

The installation of new gas boilers will be banned in the UK from 2025.

Another resident, Elizabeth Knowles, said of the plans: “They say the central heating is broken and that it’s had its time, and that’s probably true. But we need something that is more up to date than gas.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The estate’s heating and hot water network is to be renewed next year to provide residents with a reliable, efficient service. “This investment will significantly reduce the estate’s carbon emissions and offer residents more control over their usage with a Heating Interface Unit installed in every home.  “We share residents’ ambitions to make our estates and heating networks as energy efficient as possible and fit for the future.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The estate’s heating and hot water network is to be renewed next year to provide residents with a reliable, efficient service, and in residents’ homes we will be installing new vacuum double-glazed windows, which will help to keep their homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This investment will significantly reduce the estate’s carbon emissions and offer residents more control over their usage with a Heating Interface Unit installed in every home.

“We share residents’ ambitions to make our estates and heating networks as energy efficient as possible and fit for the future. This investment at Rowley Way is another step towards that ambition and will serve to greatly reduce the amount of energy that residents need to heat their homes and hot water. While the current boilers are relatively new, yet to reach a third of their expected lifespan, we are already looking at proposals for phasing out gas fired heating systems at Rowley Way and on other estates in order to replace them with greener, alternative energy sources such as air source heat pumps.

“We know that this is an important issue for our residents and it is something that we will continue to engage them on – working together to make Camden a more sustainable, and ultimately a carbon neutral borough.”

Max Wakefield, co-director of climate charity Possible, said: “It’s more important than ever to get off gas for good, so the last thing we need is to install a host of new, dirty gas boilers in people’s homes.

“The good news is that there’s a clean alternative to gas. Electric heat pumps keep us toasty in the winter, cool in the summer, and don’t run on gas. This is what Camden Council should be exploring, especially when residents are rightly calling for real climate action.”