• The Hexagon Theatre in Reading will be the first in the UK to use ground source heat pumps, harnessing underground water to heat and cool the building.
  • This sustainable system will replace old gas boilers and help Reading achieve its carbon-free target by 2030.
  • The project is part of a wider £19.1 million redevelopment from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Reading’s Hexagon Theatre is embracing ground source heat pumps

The Hexagon Theatre in Reading could soon become the first theatre in the UK to use ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling. 

Over the summer, contractors drilled two 120-meter deep boreholes at the Queen’s Walk site. These boreholes tap into a chalk aquifer beneath the town. Tests showed the water flow is strong enough to support the theatre’s heating needs. In fact, they can extract, heat, and pump 15 litres of water per second into the building.

This new system will replace old, high-carbon gas boilers. It will significantly cut carbon emissions, supporting Reading’s goal to become carbon-free by 2030. 

Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of the Council, commented: 

“We are committed to using innovative ways to make our buildings carbon neutral for the future of Reading and our residents.

The Hexagon could be the first theatre which uses water which is naturally running many metres below us to heat and cool the space to make it comfortable for audiences who come and watch the wide range of shows we have to offer.”

To make this happen, the Council has applied for a licence from the Environment Agency to use the boreholes. The theatre will also use air source heat pumps for additional cooling or heating at peak times.

Once complete, the new system will ensure the Hexagon is both an environmental and cultural landmark in the heart of Reading.