Worthing Businesses and Residents invited to help scrutinise Worthing Heat Network

Worthing Borough Council is working in partnership with low-carbon energy company Hemiko to deliver the Worthing Heat Network, which will bring sustainable heating to buildings and homes in the town.

Heat networks are an alternative to gas boilers and provide heating and hot water to homes and buildings through a network of insulated underground pipes.

Phase one of the scheme is now complete and has seen public buildings, including Worthing Town Hall, the Assembly Hall, Portland House, Worthing Museum & Art Gallery, and the Connaught Theatre, connected to the network. The pipework to Worthing Hospital has also been laid in preparation for connection.

The project’s Energy Hub, complete with green living wall, has also been constructed on High Street, outside the front of the multi-storey car park.

The second phase of the project will begin this month and will complete the main spine of the network, connecting Splashpoint Leisure Centre and the Pavilion Theatre.

Representatives from Hemiko will be attending Adur & Worthing Councils’ next Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) meeting to brief the committee on the implementation of the first phase of the project and the upcoming works, as well as discussing communication with and support for businesses and residents in Worthing.

JOSC is an elected watchdog, comprising councillors from across Adur and Worthing, and is responsible for holding decision-makers - both within and outside the councils - to account.

The meeting takes place from 6.30pm on Tuesday 27th January in the Gordon Room at Worthing Town Hall, and the committee is inviting residents and business owners to send in questions about the heat network for the public question time section.

Also up for discussion will be an update on Adur & Worthing Councils’ 2026/27 budget and a summary of the ongoing work of the JOSC Budget Scrutiny Working Group, which was set up to scrutinise the financial position of the councils.

Public questions on both topics can be submitted to the committee by emailing democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk by midday on Thursday 22nd January.

To find out more about the Worthing Heat Network, visit: https://worthingheatnetwork.co.uk/. If you have any questions about the project, please email worthing@hemiko.com.