Buildings in Westminster including the Houses of Parliament are to be warmed by low-carbon heat generated by the River Thames, London Underground and the sewers.

Initiated by the government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the £1bn heat network scheme will enable around 1,000 London buildings, including listed and World Heritage Site buildings, to switch to low-carbon heating.

Heat networks work by supplying heat from a central source and delivering it to a number of buildings via a network of underground pipes.

Known as the South Westminster Area Network (SWAN), the scheme has reached a significant milestone with the announcement that it will be developed as a joint venture between heat network developers Hemiko and Vital Energi.

Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, which has been involved in the initial planning and design stages, will bring the project to life, working alongside Westminster City Council and other stakeholders.

Once complete, the project aims to...