From Monday 5 January until the end of January 2026, the Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, will be carrying out ground investigations and district heating repairs in the north west area of Lancaster Square.

These investigations and repairs are required to locate and identify an existing fault with the District Heating leak detection system.

• Part of the Lancaster Square steps will remain open, but the accessible ramp will be out of use. An accessible diversion route will be in place around the Great Hall Complex and Music Building. View the route on Mazemap.
• There is not expected to be any disruption to heating or hot water in the local area.
• Work will progress between 8am – 5pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required.
• Dates can be subject to change.

From mid-December 2025, work will be taking place to connect the Welcome Centre to the campus District Heat Network as part of the Net Zero Energy Project. This work will be noisy at times and some accessible parking spaces and cycle parking will be affected.

Enabling works from 15 – 19 December 2025

From Monday 15 – Friday 19 December FRS Roofing Services will be carrying out works to enable the installation of District Heating pipework into the Welcome Centre rooftop plantroom.

• Tower scaffolding will be erected outside the Welcome Centre to allow the removal of some brickwork and existing roof lights.

• Access to the Welcome Centre, the Bike Workshop and the pedestrian route through to Bowland Main quad will remain open.

• Bin stores and cycle parking in the area will remain open.

• There will be limited disruption to rooms A04, A04a and A04b in the Welcome Centre during this work.

Building connection works from 5 January – 7 April 2026

From Monday 5 January – Tuesday 7 April 2026 the Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, will be working on the replacement of the existing boilers, with a district heating pipework connection from the Bowland Main plantroom into the Welcome Centre rooftop plantroom.

• Three accessible parking spaces will be out of use on Bowland Avenue for a Vital Energi compound.

• Scaffolding will be erected outside Bowland Main. Access to the Bike Workshop and the pedestrian route through to Bowland Main quad will remain open.

• The cycle parking outside Bowland Main will be out of use. Alternative cycle parking is located outside Bowland College and on Bowland Avenue.

• Bin stores will remain open.

• There will be no heating in the Welcome Centre between 8am – 5pm on Tuesday 10 February 2026 during the replacement of the boilers and connection of the district heating pipework into the plantroom. The hot water supply will not be affected.

• Work will progress between 8am – 5pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required.

• Dates can be subject to change.

The Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, is currently working on the installation of the external pipework and the replacement of the boilers at County Field accommodation. This work is scheduled to complete by mid-December 2025.

• Scaffolding has been erected at one side of each block of houses to enable the contractor to install new pipes to the elevation of the building.

• There are temporary footpath closures in the local area, and diversion signage is in place. Access to the accommodation buildings will be maintained at all times.

• Bin stores, secure cycle parking and the BBQ area remain accessible.

• The dog spend area is out of use.

• In December, the contractor will be removing the scaffolding in two phases:

• Houses 78 – 87: Monday 1 – Friday 5 December
• Houses 88 – 106: Monday 15 – Friday 19 December

• Parking spaces will be taken out of use temporarily on North Drive to allow for scaffolding collection.

• Work will progress between 8am – 5pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required.

• Dates can be subject to change.

The Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, will be working on the installation of the external district heating pipework at the following accommodation buildings during Michaelmas term:

Easdale Tarn House 30

• On hold, new dates to be confirmed

Sunnybank House 114

• On hold, new dates to be confirmed.

Nibthwaite House 116

• On hold, new dates to be confirmed.

Townend House 117

• On hold, new dates to be confirmed.

Rusland House 124

• Scaffolding erected
• External pipework installation on hold, new dates to be confirmed.

Whinfell House 125

• Scaffolding erected
• External pipework installation on hold, new dates to be confirmed.

• There will be temporary footpath closures in the local area, with diversion signage in place. Access to the accommodation buildings will be maintained at all times.

• Work will progress between 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required. 

• If any other localised work is scheduled that may impact you, your Accommodation Manager will be in contact. 

• Dates can be subject to change.

The Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, is currently working on the replacement of the boilers and pipework connections in the plant rooms on the top floor of Hawkshead House 74 Furness until mid-January 2026.

• External pipework will be installed to the building and into the plantroom on the 18 and 19 December 2025.
• Early January the contractors will be working on the installation of thermal insulation.
• The contractors will be accessing the communal stairwells of the building but will not need access to any student flats.
• Access in and out of all accommodation will be maintained, however there may be some short, temporary closures while deliveries take place.
• 5 parking bays will be out of use intermittently at the end of Furness Avenue during this work to enable the contractor to make deliveries. The accessible parking bays will be unaffected.
• Some pedestrian access routes through Furness accommodation courtyard will be fenced off.
• Work will progress between 8am - 6pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times.
• The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required.
• Dates can be subject to change.

From Tuesday 27 May 2025 to the end of January 2026 the Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, will be working on the installation of district heating pipework and building connection works at the LEC and CEH buildings.

External pipework will be installed on the north side elevation of the LEC building and along the rooftop into the CEH plant room, to connect the CEH building to the District Heating Network.

• An area at the north side of LEC will be fenced off until Tuesday 8 July for a site compound and to enable the contractor to set up scaffolding for the installation of pipework.
• Four staff parking spaces will be taken out of use on Library Avenue but will be reopened as soon as the work completes. The CEH allocated parking spaces will remain open for use.
• The contractor will use the side entrance of the LEC building and the main stairwell to access the CEH plant room throughout the works.
• During the plant room installation works, due to start between July and August, there will be a downtime of heating and hot water for one day, for up to eight hours. The University Project Manager will provide further information to building users before the works commence.
• Work will progress between 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required. 
• Dates can be subject to change.

From Monday 18 November 2024 a one-way system will be in place northbound along South Drive from the LENS building up to George Fox Avenue to enable the contractor to setup the site and construct the Net Zero Energy Centre. This one-way system will be in place until the project completes in Spring 2027.

From Monday 4 November 2024 a new entrance will be created from George Fox Avenue into George Fox car park. The contractor will create a compound on the east side of the main car park. The west side of George Fox car park will remain in use for staff parking using the new entrance/exit from George Fox Avenue.

The Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, will be working on the replacement of the boilers and pipework connections in the plant rooms, and the external district heating pipework installation at the following accommodation buildings:

Whittington House 34

• External pipework installation will follow the scaffold erection until mid January 2026

Wennington House 37

• External pipework installation until mid-January 2026
• No scaffolding required

Barbon House 39

• External pipework installation will continue until mid-January 2026
• Vital Energi contractors may require access to the communal stairwells but won’t need access to any student flats.  
• Access in and out of all accommodation will be maintained, however there may be some short, temporary closures while deliveries take place.  
• There will be temporary footpath closures in the local area, with diversion signage in place. Access to the accommodation buildings will be maintained at all times.
• Work will progress between 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required. 
• If any other localised work is scheduled that may impact you, your Accommodation Manager will be in contact. 
• Dates can be subject to change.

The Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, is currently working on the installation of the district heating pipework outside Lonsdale College accommodation and through to Barker House Avenue, adjacent to Barker House Farm. This work is scheduled to complete by the end of November 2025.

• Pedestrian access routes in and around Lonsdale College accommodation and down towards Barker House Avenue will be fenced off to enable the contractor to safely dig trenches for the installation of new pipes. Access into the accommodation and courtyards will be maintained at all times, with accessible diversion routes in place and ramps over trenches where required.

• Bin stores 52 and 53 will be open by the end of November.

• There will be some access restrictions along Barker House Avenue during the work. Parking spaces and the bin store to the rear of Barker House Farm will remain open. Access will remain open for bin collections and deliveries; however, there may be times when they will be restricted or need to be agreed with the Facilities team.

• Work will progress from 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times. The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required.

• Dates can be subject to change.

The Net Zero Energy Project contractor, Vital Energi, is currently working on the installation of external district heating pipework at Lonsdale House.

• Scaffolding has been erected on one side of the building to enable the contractor to install new pipes to the elevation of the building.
• There will be a temporary footpath closure in the local area. Diversion signage will be in place and all building entrances will be maintained.
• Work will progress from 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and will be noisy at times.
• The project webpages list alternative study spaces if required.
• Dates can be subject to change.