Investment planned for Weymouth research site
New chillers aim to improve efficiency and reduce noise
A major upgrade is being proposed for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) site in Weymouth to secure its future operations.
Plans include replacing chillers at the Barrack Road facility, which employs 150 people and is owned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The new chillers are intended to be quieter and less obtrusive compared to the existing equipment, which has been operating for 14 years.
Dorset Council Approval
Dorset Council has been asked to approve the changes as part of the planning application, now open for public comment.
According to the application, the new chillers will be modern and energy-efficient, and will be housed within purpose-designed acoustic enclosures to reduce noise compared to the temporary units currently in use.
Importance of CEFAS Site
The Weymouth facility is one of two in the UK that provide temperature-controlled water for government-led aquatic research.
The current equipment has been deemed unreliable and obsolete, necessitating the hire of temporary chillers that produce higher noise levels and pose risks to research programmes.
CEFAS warns that a cooling system failure could lead to the loss of research species and trigger major regulatory issues.
The proposed chillers aim to enhance efficiency, ensure reliability, and lower disruption risks.
The replacements will occupy the same footprint as the existing units, remaining within the service yard and mostly out of sight.
Noise assessments submitted with the application indicate that the new installation will blend with background sound levels at nearby homes, improving upon the temporary chillers currently used.