Decision on Lewisham hospital's controversial heat pump project will be made behind closed doors

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGNT) made a brief announcement about the progress of its open loop ground source heat pump project on 10 September in a blog post (bold text by the trust):

"The results indicate that the project has a high likelihood of technical viability, with testing confirming that the chalk aquifer beneath Ladywell Fields appears capable of supporting the proposed ground source heat pump system, in order to heat the hospital." 

Salamander has been reporting on the project since 1 June and calling for openness and transparency.

As we reported, the scope of the testing was extremely limited so the successful result is no surprise, but does nothing to address serious concerns which are being raised by campaigners.

The trust's blog post continues (bold text by the trust):

"As a result, we are now developing a full business case, which will be considered through the Trust’s internal governance and approval processes over the coming weeks. 

"The Trust Board (in October) will review and assess the project's technical, financial, operational, social and environmental implications in full, before any decision is made on whether to proceed."

The next publicly advertised Trust board meeting is on 27 October.

However, an enquiry from Salamander found that the trust's blog post is incorrect in its statement of this crucial timeline.

A spokesperson said:

"The business case for the ground-source heat pump project will be discussed at the internal board meeting on 29 September. Internal board papers are not shared with the public, but the Trust will communicate relevant decisions to the public as needed."

The "coming weeks" in which the full business case will be developed turn out to be just 19 days.

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has offered funding of nearly £18m towards the project, while the trust will contribute around £7m.

There is deep concern that this has raised a presumption in favour of this particular high-risk and unusual open loop ground source option, and that the hospital is rushing through the decision-making process in order to meet the DESNZ funding deadline.

Despite repeated requests, the trust has refused to share the technical documentation which supports their technology choices for the project, which funder Salix has described as "ambitious and complex".

The trust's chosen option also poses an exceptional risk of damage to the Ladywell Fields nature reserve, its rivers, aquifer and ecosystems.

The summer of heatwaves and drought has put rivers, the aquifer and all ecosystems under extreme stress, and raises further questions which remain unanswered.

The trust has suggested it will adapt the heat pump for cooling in future. However, adaption for cooling would cause an increase in the temperature of the aquifer, which would accentuate heat damage to rivers and ecosystems.

As the climate crisis accelerates, we must ensure that decarbonisation solutions are not further damaging our environment.

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