Scheme chosen as top example of enterprise
RUNCORN’S eco-credentials were given a worldwide platform as the Heath Park redevelopment project was showcased at the Global Investment Summit (GIS) in London.
Plans to transform Heath Business and Technical Park into a carbon zero neighbourhood called “Heath Park” was one of 35 green innovation schemes chosen for the “shop window” promotion of UK enterprise on Tuesday, October 19.
Under the proposals, the former ICI complex would become a place where “people can live, work and play” in an environment created to meet the challenges of climate change including being powered by renewable energy and hosting companies including a cutting-edge vertical farm.
The scheme is classed as a Liverpool City Region “beacon project”.
Hosted by The Queen, other members of the royal family and the Prime Minister, the aim of GIS was to promote the UK’s potential in shaping the future of green investment and came ahead of November’s Cop26 United Nations Conference.
Heath Park was also the only project from the Liverpool City Region and one of only two from the North West and North Wales represented in the Global Investment Atlas launched by the UK Government at GIS.
A spokesman for the Runcorn site’s owners SOG said the atlas is a “shop window” for environment innovation projects accredited by the Government to drive inward investment.
Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor and who attended GIS, said: “To tackle the threat of climate change, our planet needs a green industrial revolution, and the Liverpool
City Region has the potential to be one of its global leaders.
“Projects like Heath Park are a fantastic example of the overlap between green innovation and environmental regeneration that I am championing across our region.”
John Lewis MBE, SOG Group owner, said: “Our vision is the culmination of more than two years of methodical research and effort that has been validated every step of the way by a team of experts, including leading academics from Liverpool and Lancaster Universities Heath Park stemmed from SOG sponsoring a global competition run by RIBA, the Royal Institute of British Architects, which attracted over 50 entries from architects, forward thinkers and designers from around the world.
“It generated incredible ideas on the vision of future living with a raft of fascinating propositions on future trends in employment, housing, leisure, community, energy consumption and sustainable food supplies.
“Local food production and vertical farming, a rapidly expanding industry across the globe, were identified as vitally important elements for Heath Park and as a result we have just undertaken a world-first pilot study to create a model for a Vertical Farm totally powered by renewable energy.
“This ground-breaking process will revolutionise vertical farming methods in the future by absorbing CO2 whilst producing healthy food.”
Mr Lewis added: “Heath Park embodies the Government’s aims for urban regeneration in the UK to meet the growing demand for much needed housing.
“By repurposing our existing buildings on a brownfield site, we will drastically reduce the carbon emitted if we were to demolish them, meeting yet another important Government target.
“We have a unique project that will