Brandon Estate is the most toxic estate in Southwark

Recent Freedom of Information (FOI) data from the information commissioner has revealed that  Brandon Estate is the most toxic estate in Southwark, with each property consuming 55,442 kHh of energy per annum, instead of the 7,500 kHh of energy, as suggested by Ofgem (Energy Regulator). Please see the cost & efficiency data for ALL district heating systems in Southwark available here (Click link to download the data file)

Tom Vosper (Southwark Heat Networks manager) suggests that This figure may be erroneous, as the gas meter (from LASER) appears to have malfunctioned. However Mr Vosper suggests that the average energy use per property on the Brandon is 22,000 kWh of energy. This is still triple what Ofgem calculate the energy necessary to heat a flat.

Based on the Ofgem figures, heating a 2-bed flat on Brandon costs more that the amount of energy to heat a 5-bed house.

These figures are extremely worrying and conflict with the existing Southwark aspiration to “Make Southwark Carbon Neutral by 2030”. Every day that this antiquated, close to end of life, district heating system is kept in operation, the Brandon estate is burning at least triple the amount of fossil fuel as should be necessary. In short District Heating on the Brandon estate is KILLING OUR PLANET. This District Heating system is an ongoing pollutant every single day it is kept operating.

We recently held a meeting to discuss these issues, attended by Cllr John Batteson (Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, and Cllr Sarah King (Cabinet Member for Council Homes) who agreed to take away the many issues raised, and provide a response at the next DH meeting.

We had invited our Member of Parliament, Florence Eshalomi, who was unable to attend, but we really hope that Florence will find the time to come and meet with the 5,000+ Brandon constituents at the next DH meeting.

Brandon Residents are ‘Heating Hostages’

Unfortunately all Brandon residents are all effectively “Heating Hostages” and manacled to the District Heating system. We have no choice other than be complicit in damaging our planet. Elderly residents are further impacted by the fact that district heating systems are exempt from  the ‘Energy Price Cap’ introduced  by central government to support citizens.

Leaseholder Misery

Furthermore Brandon leaseholders are threatened with a £40,000 fee to disconnect from the system, and are unable to purchase energy at a fair price on the open market. There is also the social and economic discrimination, where depending on tenure, leaseholders pay more than double to heat an identical flat side by side with a tenanted property.

What can I do?

Write to your local MP – florence.eshalomi.mp@parliament.uk

Write to the leader of Southwark Council – Kieron.Williams@southwark.gov.uk

Write to the Chief Executive of Southwark Council – Althea.Loderick@southwark.gov.uk

Write to the Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency – John.Batteson@southwark.gov.uk

Just as local & central government have made great strides in removing outdated, pollution belching, petrol & diesel vehicles from our streets, Southwark needs to look at removing these these inefficient, out of date, expensive to maintain, prone to failure, district heating systems from our estates.

We only have ONE planet, and we cannot continue to burn TRIPLE the gas necessary to heat our homes.