Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government, Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage, praised a ground-breaking mine water heat initiative during her visit to Seaham Garden Village in County Durham.

The Mining Remediation Authority was delighted to welcome Baroness Taylor to our Dawdon mine water treatment scheme, where she saw first-hand how warm mine water will provide low-carbon heating for 750 homes at the nearby development.

The House of Lords spokesperson for both housing delivery and net zero and energy efficiency also viewed the first of the homes which will be connected to the system.

Baroness Taylor said:

It’s fantastic to see the level of innovation here at Seaham, using natural resources in the area to create more energy efficient homes.

Paired with the level of cooperation between multiple public and private organisations makes this an exciting project to visit.

The mine water heat network is a collaborative effort between the Mining Remediation Authority, Karbon Homes, Esh Group, Vital Energi, and Durham County Council. It demonstrates how Great Britain’s former coalfields can be repurposed to deliver clean, sustainable energy, supporting affordable housing and net zero goals.

Karma Harvey, acting innovation and services director at the Mining Remediation Authority, said:

It was great to showcase our Dawdon mine water treatment scheme and how the site will now serve a dual purpose, continuing to treat mine water while also providing sustainable heat to affordable homes.

Seaham Garden Village is a pioneering example of how we can repurpose Great Britain’s mining legacy to deliver real benefits for communities today. By harnessing geothermal energy from disused mines, we’re creating a low-carbon heating solution that could be replicated nationwide. This project highlights the power of collaboration and innovation in unlocking new sources of clean, affordable heat.

Paul Fiddaman, chief executive at Karbon Homes, said:

We were delighted to have Baroness Taylor visit Seaham Garden Village and see what can be achieved when parties work together to deliver innovative projects which bring significant environmental benefits.

Making use of the currently untapped heat from the disused mines under our feet to keep houses warm, is something we’re really proud to be involved with, and paired with boasting a range of energy efficiency technologies, like solar PV panels, the new homes we’re delivering at Seaham Garden Village will be well on the way to net zero.

Granted garden village status by the UK Government in 2019, Seaham Garden Village will be built over the next ten years, delivering 1,500 homes, a village centre, a primary school, and a health and wellbeing hub, all set against Durham’s heritage coastline.

This landmark project proves how mine water heat networks can provide affordable, sustainable heat for homes across the Great Britain. We look forward to scaling this game-changing technology to more locations.