Salford City Council is set to withdraw plans to install air source heat pumps at its town hall due to the cost of the project.
Proposals for Eccles Town Hall had involved the installation of six heat pumps, thermostatic radiator valves, LED lighting, double glazing and solar panels.
At a meeting next week, the authority’s property and regeneration briefing will be recommended to collapse the tender process for the project after just one supplier submitted a compliant bid, at a cost that was £700,000 higher than the council had planned.
Officers said withdrawing the plans means a £346,000 grant from a public sector decarbonisation scheme, led by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, will no longer be available to fund any works at the town hall.
A ‘reduced scheme’ involving LED lighting, glazing and solar panels has been proposed for the building.
An alternative approach will also be agreed for the 84 other public buildings, excluding schools, on the council’s estate that are heated by gas, with a review to ‘identify the sites that would benefit’ from energy efficiency measures.
