Development & Funding Partner to develop the Birkenhead Heat Network

Wirral Council
North West
Selective procedure
1 April 2026 to end not published

Development of a district heat network serving a mix of new and existing residential and commercial buildings within a designated priority heating zone. The partner is responsible for sourcing all capital funding and will form an ESCo with the Council to supply heat. The project is integrated into a major brownfield regeneration framework, with potential for future expansion and mandatory connection requirements under heat network zoning regulations.

Open the official notice

Awarded value: £300m; As published
Published: 23 May 2025; Find a Tender
Awarded: 24 March 2026; Vital Energi
Contract length: Not stated

What the buyer is asking for

Development and delivery of district heating networks, including capital funding, infrastructure design, construction, and long-term energy supply operations.

Lifecycle

Publishedon Find a Tender
23 May 2025
Contract awardedto Vital Energi
24 March 2026
Contract starts
1 April 2026
Contract endsEnd date not published

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See the district heating market: prices, buyers and who wins →

The buyer

Type: Council
District heating contracts, 24 months: 1
Open district heating tenders: 0
Typical district heating contract: £300m

See everything Wirral Council buys →

How it compares

422× the typical district heating contract (£711k).

Cite this contract

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/322380/development-and-funding-partner-to-develop-the-birkenhead-heat-network
Buyer reference: Not published
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-052272
Source: Find a Tender
Last checked: 12 October 2026

Wirral Council. Development & Funding Partner to develop the Birkenhead Heat Network. Contract award, 23 May 2025. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/322380/development-and-funding-partner-to-develop-the-birkenhead-heat-network (accessed 12 October 2026).