An on-site energy centre will provide locally generated heat for all 709 homes at Edmonstone Village in south-east Edinburgh, with tariffs linked to UK energy indices and an anticipated annual carbon saving of 294 tonnes.

The new neighbourhood will forgo individual gas boilers. Instead, each property will connect to a dedicated energy centre that produces heat using industrial-scale air source heat pumps and distributes it directly to homes. Vital Community Energi, the consumer energy brand within the Vital Energi group, will own and operate the system.

Described as the equivalent of a single boiler for the entire village, the set-up is managed by one accountable provider. Residents won't receive a gas bill; they will pay a heat tariff reviewed annually against UK energy indices, and the service is expected to maintain a saving against a comparable domestic air source heat pump, ensuring competitiveness with an at-home alternative.

The model aims to shield households from volatility in global gas markets by generating heat locally via air source heat pumps. The scheme is also expected to cut emissions by 294 tonnes of carbon a year compared with a similarly sized, conventionally heated development.

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"We know energy bills are one of the biggest anxieties for anyone buying or moving into a home right now. This scheme is designed to give residents something they simply don't get from a conventional gas heating arrangement - a managed, stable supply with no boiler to worry about, no individual maintenance costs, and pricing that isn't hostage to what's happening in global gas markets. We are responsible for this energy centre for the long term and that accountability is crucial" said Kieran Walsh, Regional Manager, Vital Energi.

Built with resilience in mind, the system includes automatic backup boilers to maintain supply if the main heat pumps go offline. Residents can manage their accounts through the Glass app, Vital Community Energi's customer platform, and have access to a 24/7 operations and maintenance team. The network operates to Heat Trust standards and sits within the framework of Ofgem's incoming regulation of heat networks across Great Britain.

Housebuilder Avant Homes is delivering an £87m, 312-home phase within Edmonstone Village. "Having Vital Community Energi run the energy centre for the long term means our buyers aren't just acquiring one of our popular practically designed, energy efficient homes in a great location. They are also buying into a managed sustainable energy service with real accountability behind it. Our Edmonstone Village development is selling well and both those customers who have already bought, and those who are in the process of buying, are fully appreciative of the benefits of district heating." said Lisa Archibald, Avant Homes Scotland's Sales Director.

The permanent energy centre is expected to be operational by next May. Construction is under way, with 19 Avant Homes properties already being supplied by a temporary energy centre on site.

Located off Old Dalkeith Road, Avant Homes' Edmonstone Village development offers a mix of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes across 12 house styles. Current guide prices range from £269,995 for a two-bedroom semi-detached Balfron to £486,995 for a five-bedroom detached Stirling. Selected plots come with incentives including part exchange, a £10,000 deposit contribution and £5,000 towards home upgrades. For more information, search 'Avant Homes Edmonstone Village'.