St Ives Old Vicarage Transformed: A Renewable Energy First for Affordable Homes?

A major renewable energy project is underway in St Ives as the historic Old Vicarage undergoes a green heating transformation, paving the way for six new affordable rental homes in the heart of the town.

Renewable Heating for Affordable Housing

Kensa, the UK’s leading ground source heat pump manufacturer, has teamed up with the St Ives Community Land Trust to install Cornwall-made ground source heat pumps in the 19th-century building. The trust is redeveloping the Old Vicarage into one- and two-bedroom homes, aiming to provide low-carbon, cost-effective housing for local residents.

The project is backed by St Ives Town Deal in partnership with Cornwall Council and is managed by Mitchell & Son Construction.

How It Works: Drilling Beneath the Old Vicarage

To power the new heating system, five boreholes are being drilled in the building’s rear garden. In a logistical challenge due to the town centre location, the Cornish drill rig had to be moved through the building to reach the drilling site.

The Kensa Shoebox NX and Shoebox heat pumps set to be installed are designed to operate efficiently within each home, supplying heating and hot water on demand.

Stuart Gadsden, Commercial Director at Kensa, highlighted the project’s impact:

“We’re often told that old properties aren’t suitable for heat pumps, and this is another in a long list of examples proving that wrong. Once complete, residents will enjoy the benefits of our ground source heat pumps—one of the most effective low-carbon heating solutions available today.”

Cutting Carbon, Reducing Energy Costs

By replacing traditional gas heating with ground source heat pumps, the redevelopment is expected to cut carbon emissions by over 80%. The heat pumps extract natural warmth from deep underground, making them highly efficient—delivering three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity used.

Jill Block, project lead for St Ives Community Land Trust, explained why the trust chose this system:

“We wanted to reduce the carbon emissions of our building and seek to reduce the overall costs to our tenants. Our tenants will be living in well-insulated homes with the benefit of future energy cost savings.”

If powered by renewable electricity, the system could achieve net-zero carbon emissions at the point of use.

Local Leaders Back the Project

Johnny Wells, Mayor of St Ives, praised the development:

“I’m thrilled to be here at the Community Land Trust project that we’ve got going on in the heart of St Ives and seeing how it’s going to be made using renewable sources of energy and drilling into the ground to get some ground source heat.”

Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for the economy, Louis Gardner, added:

“It’s great to welcome a Cornish company with environmental values that support Cornwall Council’s vision for sustainable living to Town Deal, creating six affordable homes with renewable, low carbon and efficient heating and hot water.”

A Model for Future Housing?

Scheduled for completion later this year, the project demonstrates how renewable heating technology can be successfully applied in older buildings and urban locations. The St Ives Community Land Trust hopes the redevelopment will not only provide much-needed affordable homes but also serve as an example of sustainable housing in Cornwall.