Bangour Village Estate is a new, environmentally friendly residential development in West Lothian, Scotland, built on the site of the former Bangour Village Hospital. It is characterised by sustainable features like a district heating system, EV charging points, and green spaces, and includes a mix of housing types, affordable housing, and community amenities.   Sustainability is paramount within this residential development all of the buildings are insulated and built from sustainable quality materials.  The development emphasises energy efficiency and environmental responsibility through features like a district heating system, solar panels on some homes, and a focus on green spaces.

Enertech FM was engaged by Centrica Business Solutions to design and construct a prefabricated energy centre to support a large Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) district heating network. This system needed to serve over 400 residential units, including houses and mid-rise flats.

The design phase was critical to the project's success. Enertech FM focused on ensuring that all plant and equipment could be effectively integrated within the spatial constraints of the containerised plantroom. Special attention was given to layout efficiency, safe accessibility for future maintenance, and optimal use of available space — all while maintaining high operational and safety standards.

The prefabrication phase spanned three months, focusing on the fabrication, welding, and preparation of the steel frame. Upon completion, plant installation zones were identified, and additional structural steelwork was integrated to accommodate heavy loads in accordance with design specifications. Installation of the main plant and associated steel pipework was carried out using 3D BIM drawings, ensuring coordinated alignment with mechanical, electrical, and BMS services. This process maintained clearances for accessibility and adhered to CDM 2015 regulations.

The energy centre was equipped with Hamworthy Upton Natural Gas condensing boilers (1.2–1.7 MW). A plate heat exchanger separated the primary and secondary low-temperature hot water (LTHW) systems. LTHW was circulated by a shunt pump, with flow modulated by a pressure-independent control (PIC) valve to improve energy efficiency. System operations were remotely monitored and managed via a Building Management System (BMS).

The containerised plantroom was fully clad and insulated, with electric heaters maintaining a minimum internal temperature of 3°C. Internal gutters provided rainwater drainage. All pipework was insulated, labelled, and finished with isogenpac. Roller shutter doors were installed to provide full equipment access for required maintenance.

Safety systems included a gas interlock mechanism, which automatically shut down the plant in the event of gas leakage or fire detection. Ventilation grilles ensured a continuous supply of fresh air, in line with manufacturer guidelines.

The plantroom was transported in two halves from Newcastle to Livingston, where it was lifted into position, sealed, and subjected to full on-site testing.

The system was then connected to utilities, tested, and commissioned into service with the housing developer’s wider design team.

Enertech completed all works within the designated timeframe, successfully achieving the integration of mechanical, electrical, and BMS services via their precise 3D BIM planning and coordination. As a result, a reliable, maintainable, and fully compliant energy centre was delivered, effectively supporting the Bangour Village Estate’s operational requirements and sustainability objectives.