The Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) upon Thames has launched a procurement, supported by Buro Happold and Bevan Brittan, to appoint a development partner to design and deliver a district heat network in the Kingston Potential Zone Area, London, UK.

The RBK has already completed technical and commercial feasibility assessments, which indicate that the proposed reference scheme could deliver a viable and scalable district heat network. The scheme is based on harnessing waste heat from the Thames Water Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works and is intended to supply energy to key sites, including the Cambridge Road Estate, Kingston Hospital, Kingston University’s Penrhyn Road campus, and the new Kingston Leisure Centre. It also allows for future expansion into Kingston town centre and nearby areas in subsequent phases. The project is structured in two stages. In Phase 1, the selected partner will enter into a development agreement—essentially a services contract with a nominal fee—to undertake detailed technical design and financial modelling. In Phase 2, subject to successfully passing the required approvals, the parties will formalise arrangements through a shareholders’ agreement and related governance documents, with the partner then responsible for delivering the project under a concession-style contract covering the construction, operation, and maintenance of the heat network.

If Financial Close is achieved, the Authority will proceed to enter into a Shareholders’ Agreement and set up a single-supplier framework. In line with transparency requirements, the framework identifies the eligible contracting authorities and parties that may award call-off contracts—namely Connection and Supply Agreements (CSAs)—for the purchase of heat and hot water from the network. These include the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Kingston University Higher Education Corporation, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, and Places for People Leisure Management Limited in its role as operator of the Kingston Leisure Centre on behalf of the Authority.

The indicative timetable for the procurement sets out a staged process beginning with the deadline for receipt of PSQ responses on 26 May 2026 at 12:00. Shortlisted bidders are expected to be invited to submit interim tender responses by 10 July 2026, with a submission deadline of 11 September 2026 at 12:00 noon. The Invitation to Submit Final Tender is scheduled for 4 January 2027, followed by a deadline for final tender responses on 8 February 2027 at 12:00 noon GMT. Assessment summaries and the Contract Award Notice are anticipated by 30 June 2027, with contract signature expected to take place by 31 August 2027.

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