Chartist can't wait for Copenhagen

The UN climate change conference in Copenhagen will seek agreement to reduce carbon emissions worldwide, but one Hyde landmark can’t wait.

The tallest building in the town made a very public commitment to reducing greenhouse gases. An 8.5 tonne pod containing a fully fitted plant room was lifted by crane to the top of the 16-storey Chartist House on Sunday.

New Charter is installing an innovative district heating system to the 93 apartments, 38 of which are sheltered housing. It will dramatically reduce CO2 emissions and give residents cheaper heating bills.

Main contractor Belfry Group Limited of Warrington is also rewiring the shared areas of tower block, but internal access restrictions meant the plant room could not be constructed on the roof. So it was winched by a huge crane over 160 feet to settle on a specially strengthened platform.

Some residents of the upper floors had to leave their apartments during the lift, and were provided with refreshments in both the lounge and a local supermarket cafe.

New Charter’s Director of Property Services Steve Nettleton said: “I thank all our residents for their patience and cooperation. We planned the operation to cause minimal disruption for them and the surrounding neighbourhood. I’m pleased it went without a hitch.

“The new heating system is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from 160,000kg to 69,000kg. As importantly for our residents, heating bills should fall and space will be gained by removing individual boilers.”

Twenty solar panels were also lifted into place. They will preheat the water circulating to the boiler to reduce running costs still further.
www.newcharter.co.uk