Heating Smart at Chateau Mews

Breathing New Life into a Brownfield Site

Among them are 41 new-build apartments, set across two modern buildings, with 18 units allocated as affordable housing, reflecting Keepmoat’s focus on providing accessible, sustainable homes. As part of this commitment, the developer partnered with Dimplex to deliver a smart, fully electric heating and hot water solution tailored for long- term energy efficiency and ease of installation.

The Challenge: Space, Simplicity and Future-Proof Performance

The latest updates to Part L of the Building Regulations, introduced in 2021, were designed to accelerate the construction industry’s contribution to the UK’s goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2050. 

Using the SAP10.2 modelling framework, housebuilders can now assess and specify the most effective low-carbon technologies to meet these updated requirements. By combining solutions such as heat pumps, electric panel heaters and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems, developers can more easily achieve the carbon dioxide reduction targets, Primary Energy limits and Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards (FEES) set out in Part L 2021. 

For the apartment buildings at Chateau Mews, Keepmoat needed a heating and hot water system that would give the most cost-effective solution for meeting Part L and deliver strong performance on carbon efficiency.

Design constraints also shaped the brief - each apartment included a compact utility cupboard, meaning space for mechanical systems was limited. The buildings span four storeys with no lift access, which presented logistical challenges for delivery and installation. From a resident’s perspective, Keepmoat wanted a solution that offered comfort, simplicity and the kind of smart control increasingly expected in modern homes.

The Solution: Dimplex Edel and PLXE Working Seamlessly Together

Following detailed discussions with Keepmoat’s design and commercial teams, Dimplex recommended a fully electric
solution that paired Edel hot water heat pumps with PLXE electric panel heaters. 

The Edel unit offers a highly efficient, low-carbon way to deliver domestic hot water – particularly important at Chateau Mews, where hot water demand was the most significant energy load in each apartment. By specifying Edel, the development was able to significantly reduce carbon emissions as modelled in SAP 10.2, supporting compliance with the latest Part L 2021 Building Regulations.

Each apartment was fitted with a single Edel 200-litre hot water heat pump, discreetly housed within the internal utility cupboard. Edel’s 10-metre ducting capability proved especially valuable on this site, allowing the system to draw air via a duct route that travelled above living spaces and out through the front elevation, without impacting room layouts or aesthetics. 

Alongside this, each apartment was equipped with five PLXE panel heaters. With their contemporary design, fast response and programmable control, these heaters offered a straightforward way to deliver room-by-room comfort - ideal for a residential setting focused on simplicity and reliability. 

To ensure a seamless experience for future residents, each apartment will be fitted with Dimplex hubs ahead of handover, enabling full control of heating of hot water via the Dimplex Control app. This connected functionality provides a more personalised and energy-conscious living experience, empowering residents to easily manage their comfort while keeping running costs in check.

Collaboration: Reapplying Success Across Developments

The specification for Chateau Mews wasn’t created in isolation. It was adapted from a previous Dimplex-led design developed for another Keepmoat project - a regeneration scheme on a former Boots site, currently under construction nearby. The success of that collaborative approach between Dimplex, Keepmoat and CPW Nottingham provided a proven blueprint that could be confidently applied to Chateau Mews, where construction timelines had moved ahead. 

Laura Perkins, Dimplex Key Account Manager for the Midlands, played a central role in working alongside Keepmoat’s Quantity Surveyor, Charlie Grewcock and Senior Technical Manager, Andy Gilliver, to ensure the solution was cost effective and compliant. Keepmoat site team members, Alan Simpson and Tom Rout, have also played a vital role in the delivery of the development as a whole, with a focus on ensure each plot meets the relevant standards and, crucially, is eligible for mortgage lending. Building services consultants CPW Nottingham provided valuable design input, while the Dimplex Applications Design Team supported with heating calculations and technical validation. 

On-site installation was carried out by Neil Shacklocks, who managed the Dimplex Edel hot water systems, while electrical contractor Electract was responsible for fitting the PLXE heaters.

Results : A Practical, Future-Focused Heating Solution

The apartments at Chateau Mews now benefit from a smart, low-carbon heating and hot water system that integrates effortlessly into the building design. The Edel heat pump has proven to be not only energy efficient but also installer friendly, thanks in part to the custom transport bag provided. This feature enabled easy manual handling of units up staircases, avoiding any risk of tipping the unit beyond its safe transport angle - critical on a multi-storey site with no lift. 

With installation complete in the first apartment block and the second building nearing completion, the Dimplex solution has demonstrated its value both on paper and on site. It delivers quiet, reliable and efficient operation, supports building compliance and is ready for the connected lifestyle expectations of today’s residents.

Looking Ahead

As the Chateau Mews development nears full completion and work continues at the Boots site, Dimplex’s collaboration with Keepmoat is already delivering tangible outcomes. With smart, electric-first designs playing a growing role in residential construction, this project provides a strong example of how joined-up thinking between manufacturer, developer and contractors can drive better performance and better homes.