Bristol council buildings to receive low-carbon heating upgrades

8 September 2026

Three Bristol City Council buildings are to have their gas heating systems replaced with air source heat pumps as part of a programme to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

The work at Belbrook Children’s Respite Unit, Ridingleaze House and Symes House is due to begin soon. Belbrook, which provides short breaks for disabled children and their families, will also receive solar panels, LED lighting and additional loft insulation.

Ridingleaze House and Symes House, which are used by the council’s Children and Young People Services, will have their ageing boilers replaced. The work will also include upgrades to pipes, radiators and heating controls.

The project is being delivered by Bristol City Leap, powered by Ameresco UK, with funding from the council’s Decarbonisation Fund and the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The three buildings were selected because they are among the top 30 carbon emitters in the council’s corporate estate and were identified as suitable for decarbonisation.

The council says the upgrades are expected to save an estimated 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year and reduce energy use by 154,008kWh. The work should also lower energy bills and improve the reliability of heating in buildings used to deliver public services.

The project is partly funded through the Bristol Climate Action Investment, a council green investment programme launched in 2025. The council says it raised £2m through the scheme, following support from residents, businesses and private investors.

Justin Jacober, managing director at Ameresco UK, says:

“By replacing gas heating with air source heat pumps and introducing additional energy-saving measures such as solar PV, LED lighting and loft insulation at Belbrook Children’s Respite Unit, we are helping to reduce emissions, modernise ageing infrastructure and support more efficient buildings for the people who use them every day.”

Councillor Abi Finch, chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee at Bristol City Council:

“We’re pleased to announce that works to install energy efficiency improvements are soon underway. These upgrades are another important step in Bristol’s journey towards a cleaner, net-zero future. By improving buildings such as Belbrook Children’s Respite Unit, Ridingleaze House and Symes House, we are investing in infrastructure that supports vital council services while helping to reduce emissions from our estate.”