Climate change impact assessment
The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.
|
Title of proposal |
Harrogate Convention Centre Redevelopment Project |
|
Brief description of proposal |
Investment in Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) is necessary in order to turn around the financial performance of the venue, improve its energy efficiency and ensure that it can continue to serve as a key driver of the Harrogate and North Yorkshire economy.
The desired outcomes of investment in HCC are to: • protect & grow the economic impact the venue drives to the region • reduce the current operating subsidy • enhance service reliability • increase environmental performance • enhance equality of access
HCC is a major contributor to the council’s total carbon emissions. Based on calculations prepared for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) bid in January 2021, it is estimated that HCC has a Carbon Footprint of 2007 CO2 tonnes per year. MEP systems have received little significant investment over their 40-year life and are generally approaching or already beyond technological obsolescence, resulting in excessive energy consumption, much reactive ‘fire-fighting’ repair and high costs to maintain the asset and serve events. Investment will reduce the CO2 emissions footprint of HCC to support the council’s aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030.
However, the report to Executive on 12 March recommends that the council do not progress with the designed and programmed £57m construction contract for phase 1 improvement works. This is largely due to affordability issues and the detrimental impact on the venue during the programmed works.
A soft market testing exercise is now underway to consider alternative options that deliver the desired outcomes whilst also protecting the impact on the public purse and on the local economy. This work will help to define a preferred, more affordable option and phased delivery that allows the venue to continue to operate.
A report will be brought back to Management Board / Executive in Spring 2024 to recommend an alternative planned investment programme for HCC.
It is noted that a lack of action in the meantime will mean that existing levels of carbon emissions will continue until the improvement works are agreed, financed and completed.
|
|
Directorate |
Resources / Community Development |
|
Service area |
Harrogate Convention Centre |
|
Lead officer |
Nick Edwards |
|
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment |
Ollie Braithwaite, Climate Change Business Partner Michael Constantine, Head of Operations at HCC Jonathan Dunk, Strategic Property Rebecca Micallef, Economy Officer |
|
Date impact assessment started |
February 2024 |
|
Options appraisal
Arcadis and BAM Construction were appointed to act as project consultants and to provide a design, price and programme, to culminate in one costed works package for the whole of the phase 1 project. The phase 1 project costs total £57.2m.
In addition to other improvements within the venue, this work package was to include a number or actions to enhance energy efficiency across large parts of the venue (namely the Auditorium, Hall Q and Studios 1 and 2), including: - a ‘Fabric First’ improvements approach to improve U-Values of the buildings; - lowering heating system operating temperatures (in preparation for future connection to Air Source Heat Pumps); - new Mechanical & Electrical plant - incorporating heat recovery to Air Handling Units and overall improved efficiencies; - air permeability improvements to reduce leakiness and heat losses from the building; - full LED lighting replacement and Improved pipework insulation.
However, the report to Executive on 12 March recommends that the council does not progress with this construction contract, largely due to affordability issues and the likely detrimental impact on the venue during the programmed works.
A soft market testing exercise is now underway to consider alternative options that deliver the desired outcomes. Future investment in HCC will continue to consider how best to minimise the climate change impacts of the operation of the venue and maximise potential environmental opportunities to create savings and reduce emissions over the longer-term.
|
|
What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?
The total cost of phase 1 works, as designed and programmed, is £57.2m.
Whilst this would undoubtedly result in significant cost savings in the longer-term, given the lack of external funding secured, the capital cost of the improvement works is currently deemed unaffordable.
Alternative delivery options are now being explored and will be brought back to Management Board/Executive in Spring 2024.
|
|
How will this proposal impact on the environment?
|
Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale?
Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO2e · Links to relevant documents |
Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.
|
Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible. |
||
|
Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.
|
Emissions from travel |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emissions from construction |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Emissions from running of buildings |
|
|
X |
Delayed investment / lack of action will mean no significant and immediate improvements in energy efficiency and current levels of carbon emissions. |
Alternative options to deliver the proposed improvements and support decarbonisation are now being explored. |
Detailed design of all improvements, particularly the MEP enhancement works, will continue to consider how to minimise the climate change impacts of operating the venue and seek to maximise potential environmental opportunities. |
||
|
Emissions from data storage |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Other |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Reduce water consumption |
|
|
X |
Delayed investment / lack of action will mean no significant and immediate improvements in reducing water consumption through introducing modern use technologies. |
Alternative options to deliver the proposed improvements and support reduced water use are now being explored. |
Detailed design of all improvements, particularly the MEP enhancement works, will continue to consider how to minimise the climate change impacts of operating the venue and seek to maximise potential environmental opportunities. |
||
|
Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise) |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Enhance conservation and wildlife |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Other (please state below)
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? |
|
Sustainable design principles and building energy efficiency measures have been developed by the design team, and the proposals verified during the design period. A range of sustainable and renewable energy efficiency measures can be associated with the project and will be challenged and monitored by the design team as the design progresses and as alternative delivery option are considered.
Sustainability considerations listed below will continue to be used to develop the scheme and the design across all disciplines: · Reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions. · Reduction of water usage. · Adapting buildings for climate change. · Minimise pollution. · Minimise waste. · Lifecycle impacts of materials and equipment. · Local environment and community.
|
|
Summary
One of the key desired outcomes of investment in Harrogate Convention Centre is to increase environmental performance and thereby reduce emissions and create savings on utility costs.
Because the current design and programme for phase 1 improvement works are unaffordable, alternative delivery options are now being considered.
Whilst this will inevitably cause a delay in being able to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions footprint of HCC, all future investment will continue to consider how to minimise the climate change impacts of operating the venue and seek to maximise potential environmental opportunities.
A full Climate Change Impact Assessment will be submitted alongside the recommended delivery option for the HCC Redevelopment Project that is due to be considered by Management Board / Executive in Spring 2024.
|
|
Sign off section This climate change impact assessment was completed by:
|