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Nine local authorities named in climate change pilot

28/1/2010

Bristol aims to double cycling and Leeds plans to deliver 28,000 homes to Code level 4.

Communities secretary John Denham has named nine local authorities that will work with government to develop an action programme to tackle climate change. Manchester, Leeds City region, Bristol, Oxford, Northumberland, Haringey, Nottingham, Plymouth and Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset Multi Area Agreement will test new local carbon frameworks.

The frameworks will promote new, more effective ways of meeting government's ambitions on the climate change agenda. The eventual aim is to incentivise all councils to significantly reduce their carbon emissions.

Government says local authorities could unlock new sources of income by working more closely with energy suppliers to develop plans to green domestic and non-domestic properties, increase demand for renewable energy, consider how to increase the economic viability of new energy sources, boost links to heat and energy schemes and make more effective use of surplus energy to power homes.

John Denham is proposing that local carbon frameworks will involve councils:

• setting out a clear set of targets for action and a route for progress and milestones
• developing a clear strategy for how carbon reductions can be achieved
• producing a delivery plan involving all its partners, including those outside the formal strategic partnership. Plans might set out what action is needed on issues spanning recycling, energy efficiency, wind power, transport, etc.

The nine councils have already indicated where they will take action:

• Bristol is part of the Low Carbon Core Cities programme and has set an carbon reduction target of 40 per cent by 2020. It is producing an action plan for 2010/11 as part of its Green Capital programme. This includes establishing an ESCO and district heating programme, building strong carbon partnerships with the commercial sector and doubling the level of cycling in the city.
• Manchester has signed up to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2020, and the city region has committed to be a low carbon economic area.
• Leeds City region has been developing an urban eco-settlement programme, aiming to deliver 28,000 homes at least at level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and at Eco-Towns PPS standards in four regeneration areas. The city region is also aiming to deliver a Domestic Energy Efficiency Programme jointly across the sub-region.
• Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset have a multi area agreement with an environmental theme and an emphasis on green knowledge economy, linked to domestic energy programmes, district heating, and partnership building across the areas. The area is home to the first Marks and Spencer eco-store.
• Nottingham is developing a sustainability strategy. It has been active on a range of fronts, in particular through the tram and the Nottingham Energy Partnership's consideration of waste to heat provision.
• Plymouth is focussing on the impact on businesses and a low carbon economy and the impact on vulnerable communities.
• Oxford has set itself an ambitious carbon reduction target - equivalent to about 50 per cent by 2020.
• Northumberland has set a target of reducing carbon emissions from council activity by 50 per cent over five years. The county also hosted a pilot to be undertaken by Berwick Housing Trust.
• Haringey has signed up to a carbon reduction target of 40 per cent by 2020, and is developing a delivery plan.