Horden Minewater project

Horden was home to one of the largest coal mines in the country. At the height of the mine's operation, in the 1930s, it employed over 4,000 men and produced 1.5 million tonnes of coal per year.

During this time, Horden was a bustling town with three cinemas and a peak population of 15,000 residents in 1951.

Since the mine's closure in 1987, the population of Horden has almost halved to 8,000 residents (2011 census) and become one of the most impoverished areas of County Durham, and England.

The mine is now under the control of the Coal Authority, who own and operate the mine water pump which brings water that fills the mineshaft to the surface for treatment, to prevent contamination of a major aquifer, that provides 20 percent of the drinking water for the local area. The water from the mine is naturally heated to around 16°C, but this heat is currently underutilised.

A community focussed project assessing the possible use of mine water heat has the potential to regenerate Horden Village in County Durham in several ways such as:

Create new job opportunities in the village, particularly in the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility. This would help to stimulate economic growth and provide a sustainable source of income for residents.
Celebrate the heritage of mining in Horden by utilising the abundant mine water resources left behind from the coal mining industry.
Community involvement can help fostering a sense of ownership, pride, and responsibility within the community and ensures that the benefits of the scheme are distributed equitably among residents, helping to address social and economic inequalities within the village.
Providing access to fairly costed renewable energy contributing to net zero.

Work completed so far

2020: Micro feasibility studies completed. The community group agreed to pursue a heat network and horticultural project.
2021/2023: £110,000 in funding from the Net Zero Hub was secured for technical feasibility and community engagement. The group prioritised focusing on a mine water heat network.
2023: Visits to the Leeds District Heating Network and Lewes Community Energy South were conducted to gather insights and best practices.
October 2023: The Heat Networks Delivery Unit (HNDU) was notified of a £150,000 funding request.
2024: Application submitted for the Northern Flower House project.
November 2023 to July 2024: HNDU Detailed Project Development (DPD) work to develop Outline/Baseline Case (OBC).