The Worthing heat network will initially use three large air source heat pumps in an energy centre by a car park in the town centre.

At first they will heat large public buildings, including the town hall and local hospital. Homes will be connected later, with plans for the entire town to be hooked up by 2050.

Worthing has one of Britain’s oldest populations, with around 35pc of its 113,000-strong population over the age of 60, compared with 25pc nationally.

Sophie Cox, Worthing’s cabinet member for climate emergency, said the town planned to be a carbon neutral council by 2030 and a net zero borough by 2045.

Heat networks use a centralised heat source, potentially including heat pumps or waste heat from a data centre – and pipe it to nearby buildings.

Connected properties no longer need boilers or hot water tanks but instead use a heat exchanger similar in size to a small gas boiler.