Green heating boost for 19th-century former vicarage

Kensa, the UK’s leading ground source heat pump manufacturer and installer, has broken ground on an exciting new renewable heating project with the St Ives Community Land Trust, a local not-for-profit group working to provide affordable rental homes, right in the heart of the world-famous Town of St Ives, Cornwall.

This latest initiative will see Kensa’s Cornwall-made ground source heat pumps installed in the former Old Vicarage, dating back to the early 1800s, which The Trust is regenerating into six new, modern affordable rental homes for the local community.

The redevelopment is primarily funded by St Ives Town Deal in partnership with Cornwall Council and will be managed by Mitchell & Son Construction. It involves drilling five boreholes in the property's rear garden to access renewable heat energy, which the heat pumps will harness. Due to the Vicarge’s town centre location, the Cornish drill rig had to travel through the building to reach the drilling location.

Scheduled for completion later this year, each new home will feature a compact Kensa ground source heat pump discreetly housed within the property. A combination of Kensa Shoebox NX and Shoebox heat pumps will be installed to deliver highly efficient, low-carbon renewable heating and hot water for each property, helping to keep residents' energy bills and carbon footprints low.

Installing ground source heat pumps in the mix of one—and two-bedroom flats is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 80% compared to heating them using conventional gas systems.*

By adopting Kensa’s energy-efficient technology, the project will achieve zero carbon emissions at the point of use, and showcase how ground source technology can be used in both urban locations and older properties.

Stuart Gadsden, Commercial Director at Kensa, said:

“We’re really excited to be working with the St Ives Community Land Trust on this project. We’re often told that old properties aren’t suitable for heat pumps, and this is another in a long list of examples proving that wrong.

“Once complete, residents will enjoy the benefits of our ground source heat pumps—one of the most effective low-carbon heating solutions available today. Our systems' high energy efficiency will ensure year-round comfort with heating and hot water available whenever needed, without concerns about soaring energy costs or environmental impact.

“As a Cornwall-based company, it is particularly rewarding to contribute to a community-led project so close to home, and we look forward to working with The Trust to modernise this remarkable period property for 21st-century living.”

Jill Block, Project lead, St Ives Community Land Trust said:

“We wanted to reduce the carbon emissions of our building and seek to reduce the overall costs to our tenants.

“Our tenants will be living in well-insulated homes with the benefit of future energy cost savings.  The Trust expects to benefit from reduced maintenance costs over the life expectancy of GSHP equipment compared to alternative options, thereby supporting our ambition to continue to provide affordable rental homes in the most cost-effective manner for our tenants over a much longer term.

“For every unit of electricity used by the heat pump, three to four units of heat are captured and transferred. In effect this means a well-installed GSHP can be 300-400% efficient in terms of its use of electricity.

“At this efficiency level there will be 70% lower carbon dioxide emissions than for a gas boiler heating system. If the electricity is provided by renewable energy, then carbon emissions can be reduced to zero. Our view is that we wanted to do the best for our local community that we can.”

Johnny Wells, Mayor of St Ives said:

“I’m thrilled to be here at the Community Land Trust project that we’ve got going on in the heart of St Ives and seeing how it’s going to be made using renewable sources of energy and drilling into the ground to get some ground source heat. It’s brilliant to see these projects underway and as the town council we’re really pleased to see the support that we’re putting in to these projects coming to fruition, it’s great.”

Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for the economy, said:

“It’s great to welcome a Cornish company with environmental values that support Cornwall Council’s vision for sustainable living to Town Deal, creating six affordable homes with renewable, low carbon and efficient heating and hot water.”