— Morwenna Hall, Executive Director and COO of Related Argent
Brent Cross Town Main Energy Centre is a 3,000m² all-electric facility that will supply low-carbon heating and cooling to 6,700 new homes and workspace for over 25,000 people.
This key piece of infrastructure will be among the largest of its kind in Europe and marks a significant step towards Brent Cross Town’s Net Zero Carbon ambitions, delivered by Related Argent and Barnet Council, inpartnership with Vattenfall.
The building’s angular, inverted ziggurat form maximises the space available for the rooftop fans, while also contrasting with IF_DO’s substation that sits adjacent to create a striking silhouette against the North London skyline. A distinctive floating fan deck appears as a 'flying carpet', inspired by Mies van der Rohe's Neue National galerie and conceived as a celebration of the technology within. The lightweight, permeablestructure transitions from a solid concrete base to reflective aluminium and shifting perforate textured metal, optimising airflow to the fans while remaining demountable for future adaptability.
Internally, plant rooms shape the footprint, with integrated spaces for staff and visitors including a workshop and viewing areas to supporteducational visits. At its core are high-performance air and water source heatpumps, electric boilers, and extensive thermal storage, supported by a network of underground pipes that enables energy to be delivered efficiently and at scale with minimal environmental impact.
This landmark green energy station, delivered as part of the Brent Cross Town masterplan is a model for sustainable urban development. This critical infrastructure has been designed to meet the needs of future generations of Londoners and accelerate the transition to low-carbon living.
