THE GOVERNMENT is looking to councils to help with the development of heat networks.

Bolton Council has been awarded £67,000 by the Heat Networks Delivery Unit to create a business case for a potential new network, which could cost as much as £11.5m.

In a report to councillors, officers from the authority said both the government and the GMCA - which is providing a further £29,700 to the project - “strongly believe” a Bolton heat network has “all the hallmarks of a viable and investable scheme”.

The government has already invested nearly £3m in a similar scheme for Manchester city centre.

The Civic Quarter Heat Network will distribute warmth created in generating electricity through two kilometres of underground pipes to some of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, including the Town Hall and Art Gallery.

Speaking about the government’s investment, business secretary Greg Clark said: “This should encourage industry to invest in heat recovery technologies, harnessing the power of heat, that would otherwise go to waste in manufacturing and data centres across England and Wales.”