20 Years of ThamesWey
Following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, Woking Borough Council set itself an ambitious set of targets regarding climate change. In order to accelerate delivery, Woking Borough Council realised that it needed a dedicated vehicle to engage with private partners and ThamesWey was born.
Timeline
ThamesWey changes to 100% renewable electricity
ThamesWey appointed Ørsted, a leader in offshore wind, to provide top-up electricity to our networks in Woking and Milton Keynes. For all ThamesWey supplied sites in Woking and Milton Keynes, the electricity bought from the grid to top-up that generated by our energy centres is now 100% renewable, generated by offshore wind farms.
ThamesWey completes first new homes with swift bricks
ThamesWey has completed its first housing development containing swift bricks. The 12 swifts bricks have been incorporated into two new family sized affordable homes which have been handed over to Woking Borough Council.
ThamesWey breaks ground on Canalside development
After years of planning and consultation, the first diggers have begun work on the multi-million pound regeneration of the Sheerwater estate. Teams broke ground to start building a state-of-the-art leisure complex as part of the Canalside development. This major regeneration project will breathe new life into this area, creating a thriving, sustainable community that meets the changing needs of modern living.
ThamesWey begins a 12 month energy storage trial on 11 properties
ThamesWey begins a 12 month energy storage, using batteries, trial on 11 properties. The batteries will enable residents to store unused solar energy generated throughout the day for use at night.
Major renovation of 50 former MoD properties in Pirbright completed
ThamesWey completes major renovation of 50 former Ministry of Defence properties in Pirbright to improve the comfort of the homes and reduce the energy bills for tenants. The energy efficiency “make-over” included installing wall and roof insulation, solar panels and upgrading old, inefficient boilers.
Greener, cleaner power for new town centre office building
The newly-refurbished Victoria Gate office building in Woking town centre is now running on ThamesWey’s district heat and power network, earning it some impressive sustainability credentials. Choosing this local supply for all its power, heating and cooling requirements has helped the prestige redevelopment achieve an ‘Excellent’ status in its BREEAM sustainability assessment.
ThamesWey launches an Earn Your Deposit scheme
ThamesWey launches an Earn Your Deposit scheme to help ThamesWey tenants save towards a deposit to buy their own place.
First ThamesWey modular build
First ThamesWey modular build, 20 High Street, Knaphill completed. Modular construction is where a building is built off-site in “modules” which are put together on the desired location.This enables properties to be built faster compared to on-site construction.
Action Surrey completed the “Streets Ahead” project
Action Surrey completed the “Streets Ahead” project which used £1.8 million worth of the Green Deal Communities Fund to enable 450 Surrey residents to insulate their solid wall properties.
ThamesWey delivers a 3G pitch at Woking Leisure Centre
ThamesWey delivers a 3G artificial turf pitch at Woking Leisure Centre in order to improve the facilities available for the community.
ThamesWey Solar installs 5000 solar panels at 35 sites across the borough
ThamesWey Solar’s first solar photovoltaic arrays are installed at 35 sites throughout the borough, including on Council owned housing, community buildings and third party owned buildings. This represents over 1.24 MW of peak solar capacity and all arrays are registered for the Feed-in-Tariff scheme.
ThamesWey Solar established
ThamesWey Solar established to further the installations and operation of solar photovoltaic panels in Woking. ThamesWey now has more than 60 PV arrays in and around the Borough.
Completion of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 eco-houses
Completion of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 eco-houses at Brookwood Farm which featured triple glazed windows, improved insulation & air tightness, rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic roof tiles. These represented the first purpose built THL property.
MP Chris Huhne, 2010-2012 Secretary State for Energy & Climate Change, visited Brookwood Farm:
Action Woking established
Action Woking established to provide an impartial energy advice service, supporting households, schools and businesses to help them save money on energy bills and reduce CO2 emissions.
100 properties owned
ThamesWey Housing reaches 100 owned properties
40 GWh of low carbon electricity generated
ThamesWey Energy generated more than 40 GWh of low carbon electricity and heat from its generating stations.
ThamesWey Developments established
ThamesWey Developments established to develop both commercial and residential schemes across the Borough.
ThamesWey acquired Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities Limited
ThamesWey acquired Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities Limited which became known as ThamesWey Sustainable Communities Limited in 2013.
Woking Borough Homes Limited established
Woking Borough Homes Limited established (later renamed ThamesWey Housing in January 2013) in support of Woking Borough Council’s Housing Strategy
ThamesWey’s first photovoltaic installation
ThamesWey Energy begin the installation of over 300 solar panels at Brockhill, the first of 12 sites across the borough to receive similar arrays, eventually resulting in over 3000 panels and a peak generation of over 750 kW peak.
Thameswey Energy begins construction
ThamesWey Energy begins construction of the Woking town centre combined heat and power station.
ThamesWey Energy established
ThamesWey Energy Limited established to provide a long-term strategy of sustainable energy infrastructure investment and a mission to provide low carbon energy in the Borough of Woking.
Woking Borough Council established ThamesWey Limited
ThamesWey set up by Woking Borough Council as a public-private joint venture to spearhead delivery of the Councils’ ambition for Woking to meet the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction targets.