The scheme, which utilises warm water from the Mining Remediation Authority's Dawdon mine water treatment scheme, was selected from projects across the UK. The award ceremony took place on Thursday 5 November 2026 in Glasgow as part of the BE-ST Fest.
Judges celebrated the project for its innovative approach to supporting a just transition in the built environment. The network provides clean, affordable, and secure heat for hundreds of homes, utilising water naturally heated to between 18°C and 20°C. A 733kW water source heat pump increases the temperature before it travels through the network to 750 affordable homes, projected to save 505 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
“"We’re delighted that Seaham Garden Village has won the Gamechanger Award. The scheme shows what’s possible when we put a former coalfield’s mining legacy to work for the community. It uses warm water from our Dawdon mine water treatment scheme to provide clean, affordable and secure heat for hundreds of homes. It’s a fantastic result for everyone involved. I’d like to thank everyone across the project and partnership for making it happen."
Vital Energi, the regional manager Kieran Walsh noted the project's significance in continuing the north-east's mining heritage by giving the infrastructure at Dawdon Colliery a new purpose. Vital Energi will also serve as the long-term energy services company for the network.
The Dawdon Colliery, which operated for 85 years after opening in 1904, now has its mine workings filled with groundwater. The treatment scheme pumps and treats this water to protect the local aquifer, with the heat network providing a second use for the site without compromising its safety role.
The heat network was a collaborative effort between Durham County Council, the Mining Remediation Authority, Karbon Homes, and Vital Energi, who designed and built the energy centre and network. It will supply heat to 750 affordable homes within the Seaham Garden Village masterplan.
