B & D Energy-District Heating Network

ACCL was awarded the tender to design, supply, install, and provide ongoing support for a fibre optic network underpinning a brand-new district heating system across the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. A multi-year, phased rollout spanning 26 residential and commercial buildings, two energy centre hubs, and over 64 kilometres of single-mode fibre.

Barking and Dagenham District Heating Network

Client Location: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Project type: Distirct heating network fibre optic network

Scope: 26 residential connected buildings, 2 energy hubs, 64km of fibre optic cabling

The Project

The district heating project represents one of the most technically demanding smart energy infrastructure deployments ACCL has delivered — a multi-year, phased rollout spanning 26 residential and commercial buildings, two energy centre hubs, and over 64 kilometres of single-mode fibre.

Commencing in March 2021, the project required meticulous planning, adaptive project management, and close collaboration with Barking and Dagenham Council, multiple building contractors, and local stakeholders. By 2026, with the completion of the backup energy centre, the network reached full optimisation — a milestone that secures the long-term resilience and reliability of smart energy monitoring across the entire development.

“ACCL delivered a complex, multi-year fibre optic network across a live urban development, on time, in phases, and with zero disruption to the district heating service.”   

Project Background: What Is a District Heating Network?

A district heating network centralises the generation of heat and hot water in one or more energy hubs, distributing it to multiple buildings through an underground pipe system. Rather than each property having its own boiler, residents and businesses draw from a shared, more energy-efficient source. This model is increasingly favoured by local authorities as part of their net-zero commitments.

For the network to function effectively, and for billing to be accurate and fair, every property and hub must be connected to a real-time data monitoring system. This is where ACCL’s expertise came in: delivering the fibre optic backbone that makes energy data collection, measurement, and billing possible across the entire network.

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Project Scope & Technical Solution

Network Architecture

ACCL designed the fibre optic network using a ring topology — one of the most resilient configurations available for critical infrastructure. The network comprises two primary rings (A and B), each carrying 32 kilometres of Leviton single-mode fibre, delivering a 10Gbps backbone service throughout the development.

The ring design means that if any single point in the network experiences a fault, traffic is automatically rerouted through the alternative path, ensuring continuous connectivity and uninterrupted energy data flow.

Core Technology Stack

Switching Infrastructure: Allied Telesis managed switches were deployed at both the core (energy centre) and edge (individual building) levels. Each of the 26 buildings received a 24-port Allied Telesis hub, connecting the property to the Building Management System (BMS).

Power Resilience: APC Smart UPS units were installed to provide battery backup across the network, ensuring continuity of data monitoring during power interruptions.

Fibre Medium: Leviton single-mode fibre was selected for its superior performance over long distances and its suitability for a 10Gbps transmission environment — essential for a network of this scale.

BMS Integration: Within each resident building, the network connects directly to the Building Management System, enabling granular energy usage data to be captured and transmitted to the central billing station in real time.

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Phased Delivery Approach

Given the scale and complexity of the development, with new buildings coming online each year, ACCL structured the project into two primary phases, with ongoing annual additions:

  • Phase 1 (2021): Installation of five underground fibre optic rings along the district heating network route. Strategic joint positions were built into each ring to facilitate future building connections as construction progressed.
  • Phase 2 (Ongoing, 2022–2025): As each new building reached the base-build stage, ACCL extended the relevant ring to encompass it and deployed the edge switching equipment. Approximately two to three buildings were added to the network each year.
  • Phase 3 (2026): Completion of the backup energy centre. ACCL extended both the A and B rings to the new energy centre, installed core switches and edge switching equipment, and brought the B ring live — delivering full network optimisation for the first time.

Challenges & How ACCL Overcame Them

This project presented a range of operational, logistical, and technical challenges. ACCL’s ability to adapt, plan ahead, and work collaboratively with all stakeholders was central to its success.

  • Suspended Parking & Resident Access – ACCL coordinated closely with the council to schedule manhole access during low-footfall periods, minimising disruption and communicating proactively with residents.
  • Active Daily Market Operations – Works were rescheduled to evenings and after hours on market days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday), ensuring zero impact on local commerce.
  • Multiple Contractors & Build Schedules – ACCL adapted to the individual timelines of each building contractor, creating bespoke connection schedules that aligned fibre ring extensions with each building’s completion stage.
  • Phased Construction Over Multiple Years – The ring topology design ensured the live network remained fully operational while new buildings were progressively connected, with no service disruption to existing residents.
  • Single Energy Centre Dependency (Pre-2026) – Prior to the B ring going live, ACCL engineered a resilient interim configuration on the A ring, ensuring the network remained operational and monitored.
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Outcomes & Successes

Despite the complexity of the project, ACCL delivered an outstanding result across every measure. Key successes include:

  • Full Network Optimsation Achieved: With the B ring now live and connected to both energy centres, the district heating network has complete failover capability — if the primary energy centre experiences any issues, the secondary takes over instantly with no loss of service.
  • Seamless Phased Integration: Over five years, ACCL successfully connected 26 buildings without a single disruption to the operational parts of the network. Each extension was completed to specification and on schedule.
  • 10Gbps Future-Proof Infrastructure: The capacity of the fibre backbone significantly exceeds current demand, meaning the network is well-positioned to accommodate additional services, IoT devices, and smart city applications in the future.
  • Minimal Community Disruption: Through careful scheduling, after-hours working, and proactive stakeholder communication, ACCL minimised friction with residents and local businesses throughout the project.
  • Strong Client Relationship: The multi-year nature of this engagement is a testament to the trust Barking and Dagenham Council placed in ACCL. The ongoing nature of the project demonstrates ACCL’s ability to deliver consistent, high-quality work over extended timeframes.
  • Collaborative Contractor Coordination: Working with multiple main contractors, each with their own build programmes and timescales, ACCL demonstrated exceptional project management capability, aligning all parties and keeping the network rollout on track.

Why Barking and Dagenham Council Chose ACCL

ACCL was selected through a competitive tender process on the strength of its technical expertise in fibre optic network design and delivery, its track record with complex public sector infrastructure projects, and its ability to provide end-to-end service from initial design through to installation, commissioning, and long-term support.

The Barking and Dagenham district heating project demonstrates exactly the kind of partnership ACCL builds with its clients: deeply collaborative, technically excellent, and built for the long term.

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