Sheffield council home heating system so 'antiquated' that parts are no longer available

Coun Penny Baker raised the issue at a meeting of the council’s housing policy committee on Thursday (June 18).

Council tenants of high-rise blocks in Stannington and Netherthorpe were among those to lose their heating and hot water supply last winter.

Coun Baker said there were problems when council staff did repairs. “The parts needed are no longer on the market, they are antiquated parts. That says something.”

She said that staff managed to source some parts but the problem remains. She asked what can be done to maintain or replace outdated systems.

John Rowle, council assistant director for estate management, replied that there are 135 district heating schemes throughout Sheffield and 6,000 customers connected to them.

He said that short-term work to mitigate heating system problems is being carried out by asset management and repairs service teams.

When breakdowns occur, temporary boiler plant can be used to keep services going.

Mr Rowle said that mechanical and electrical teams are reviewing the systems. Some are 30 to 40 years old.

“We need to make sure that people have hot water and heating in their homes,” he added. “We’ve got to do something more long term on the ageing network we’ve got.”

He said that teams are looking at whether to take some council homes off the district heating scheme altogether and put in replacements.

Coun Baker said she found that information reassuring. She urged Mr Rowle to talk to other organisations looking at renewables systems.

Mr Rowle said he is already talking to the council City Futures team about that.