PLANS for a sustainable heat network in Crewe town centre have moved a step closer.

Cheshire East Council had already given the go-ahead for the scheme, subject to confirmation funding was in place.

Members of the council's finance sub-committee were told at Wednesday's meeting that external funding of £2.727m has been secured from the Future High Streets Fund and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme so the project is now deemed to be affordable and can go ahead as part of the main capital programme.

Cllr David Brown thanked the team of officers who had worked on the scheme.

"There's been a lot of effort gone into Crewe with exploring all types of systems and trying to get a sustainable heat network up," said the Congleton East councillor.

"It's even better that it's at zero cost to the council and we've got government grants to fund this.

"I'd just like to say this is wonderful and the sooner we can get it going the better."

Cheshire East Council has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2025 for its own operations and to using its influence to reduce the carbon footprint of the wider borough.

The plan is to create a sustainably powered heating network among public buildings within the civic quarter of Crewe town centre.

The network will be powered primarily by air source heat pumps, supported by existing and new combined heat and power units, located at a purpose built extension to the Crewe Lifestyle Centre.

The council says the project is a key part of the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan and Environment Strategy to deliver both carbon savings for council buildings but also to act as a catalyst for wider decarbonisation of Crewe town centre.