AN estate owner's bid to cut huge fuel bills has inspired the launch of a venture installing biomass boiler systems powered by wood chip sourced from the region's forests.

Edward Milbank decided to act when the annual fuel oil bill for Barningham Park, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, reached £18,000.

He set about installing a biomass boiler to provide heat for the main property – a medieval fortified farmhouse – plus a cottage and a stable block which has been converted into commercial offices.

Using timber from woodland on the 7,000 acre estate, Mr Milbank saw his fuel bill drop by a third – and fired his enthusiasm for starting a business designing and fitting biomass boilers and supplying them with chips.

Since launching Pennine Biomass with business partner Andy Howard, chip-powered boilers have been installed in a number stately homes across the region, including Upsall Castle, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Thorp Perrow arboretum and gardens, Bedale, and Brettanby Manor, Barton.

Mr Milbank said a number of smaller projects have also been completed and work was currently being done to install a boiler at a school in the south of Scotland.

The business has been given a further boost with the acquisition of a specially converted truck which now is being used to deliver chips to customers.

The £55,300 truck was bought with the help of a 50 per cent grant from the North Pennine Dales Leader fund and is fitted with a blower specially imported from the USA which is used to move the chips from the vehicle to the boiler.

Mr Milbank said the venture had already created jobs for two installers, a design engineer and a part-time truck driver.

The initial success of the business has also led to Mr Milbank establishing the Northern Woodfuel Network, working with estates around the region.

“There is lots of very mature timber around and because it costs so much to extract, there has been no necessity to do it,” he said.

“What we are doing is saying join us, we will manage all the woodland together so we can get a harvester in and make it cost effective.

“It's a partnership. I need them to provide the timber and in doing so they get a commercial rate for the wood they own.”