WINCHESTER CLIMATE EMERGENCYCARBON NEUTRALITY ACTION PLAN
2020 - 2030

1

CONTENTS
SECTION 1

Introduction...............................................4

SECTION 2

Priorities ..................................................11

SECTION 3

Delivery principles.....................................13

SECTION 4

Implementation and governance..............16

ACTION PLAN..................................................................19

Approved by Winchester City Council
23 December 20192

‘The climate crisis is the biggest
challenge all of us face in the coming
years and decades. Winchester must
play its part in tackling the crisis andhand our district to our children andgrandchildren in a better
state than it is now.’
WINCHESTER CITY COUNCILCOUNCIL PLAN 2020-2025

FOREWORD
Winchester is a beautiful district.
Spanning a 250 square mile area ofrolling Hampshire countryside, it isdotted with bustling market towns,
rural villages, and vibrant up-andcoming communities - and of course
has the draw of a cathedral city that’s
famous for its heritage landmarks,
high quality cultural offering andunspoilt open spaces. We are looking
to meet the challenge of ensuring
generations to come have a positive future and that means taking
positive action now. This means we have declared a Climate
Emergency and are working with residents, businesses, stakeholders
and specialist agencies to ensure we put all we need into making
local life more environmentally sustainable.
We will be closely monitoring our progress towards two ambitious
goals; to see the activities of the council carbon neutral by 2024;
and the whole district by 2030. Transparency is important to us so
we will be measuring our progress and sharing it publicly as wework towards these targets.
Right now, people love to live here – our 2019 district-wide
Residents’ Survey showed that 95% of those asked said they
were happy with the place they lived. But we need to ensure that
Winchester retains all that we want to protect for the future,encouraging a very different lifestyle from today’s. Read on to findout what we are doing to address this and how you can play yourpart.

Lucille Thompson

Cllr Lucille Thompson, Leader of Winchester City Council
3

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

CLIMATE EMERGENCY DECLARATIONThe council has a strong track record of working
on carbon reduction and in 2014 approved
a comprehensive route map to a low carbon
economy in Winchester district. A Low Carbon
Board was established with representatives
from the council, the University of Winchester,
Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC)
and Winchester Walking Group.
Over the past ten years the council’s own carbon
emissions have reduced by 23.6% with a decreasein emissions per employee of 10.7% since the firstrecording.
However, in October 2018 the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, stated
that,“global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C(above pre-industrial levels between 2030 and2052) if it continues at its current rate.” It also
stated, that warming could be halted should
emissions reach and be sustained at "net zeroglobal anthropogenic CO2 emissions".
The predicted consequence of climate change
is that there will be increased extreme weather
events, and in many areas this is already beingseen:• Flooding – damage to property, disruption tobusiness, health and wellbeing of displaced
residents;• Heat and cold – health risk for vulnerable
people, pressure on emergency and healthservices;4••

Drought – pressure on river system health,depleted aquifer/reservoir volumes, negative
impact upon agriculture, fire risk;
Many terrestrial, freshwater, and marine
species will shift their geographic ranges andseasonal activities, migration patterns.

In response to this unprecedented challenge, inJune 2019 Winchester City Council declared a‘Climate Emergency’; and to:•Commit to the aim of making the activities
of Winchester City Council carbon neutral by2024, and the district of Winchester carbon
neutral by 2030, taking into account bothproduction and consumption emissions;•Publish a report within six months setting out
the immediate actions the council will take toaddress this emergency and a plan to measure
annual district progress towards meeting the2030 target;•

Work with partners across the district to deliver
this new goal through all relevant strategies
and plans and drawing on local and global
best practice;•

Support the lobbying of Government inrelation to the Climate Emergency andproviding the additional powers and resources
needed to meet the 2030 target.

PURPOSE OF THE CARBON
NEUTRALITY ACTION PLAN

WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY

This Action Plan will focus on how the council
aims to achieve carbon neutrality and;•••Actions it will take to reduce/eliminate oroffset its own carbon emissions.
Actions it can take to support and help
others; individuals, businesses, agencies andorganisations, to take action so that the
district becomes carbon neutral.
Actions that promote climate resilience
including biodiversity; waste and recycling,planning and development; and commerceand economy.

As such its focus is on carbon emission reductionand elimination, with mitigation /off settingused as a means to balance carbon emissions toachieve net zero gain. The baseline year of 2017is used as this the most currently available dataand gives the council’s carbon emissions as 4,187
tonnes CO2e and the District’s as 629,000 tonnes
CO2e, increasing by an additional 205,000 tonnes
CO2e when the motorways are included.
The Plan will be reviewed annually to enable newissues, challenges, opportunities and solutions to
be considered, and projects added over the life of
the document.

GOVERNMENT• Provide the legislative and regulatory framework that
supports carbon reduction• Provide funding and investment in low carbon
infrastructure and technology

EACH OF US CAN:
• Insulate our homes• Replace lights with the most efficient bulbs (e.g. LEDs)• Replace old boilers with energy efficient alternatives• Buy green electricity• Use public transport for more journeys• Buy local and seasonal

BUSINESSES• Reduce embedded emissions by, for example, working
directly with suppliers• Provide low emissions products and services• Educate and providing guidance to consumers• Invest in energy efficiency measures / facilities
management systems• Adopt work practise and production methods that
reduce energy consumption and waste

5

CARBON NEUTRALITY: DEFINITION‘Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers
to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured
amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered
or offset.'
UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

CO²
Reducing carbon emissions can
include actions such as energy efficiency
measures that reduce the demand forheating.

6 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

Eliminating carbon emissions
can be achieved through the useof renewable energy that does notproduce any carbon emissions andmaking changes to industrial andagricultural processes to eliminate
carbon production.

Carbon offsetting is a climate
action that enables individuals andorganisations to compensate forthe emissions they cannot avoid,by supporting projects that reduce
emissions somewhere else.

SCOPEThe council it will take account of both direct production and indirect consumption emissions
defined in the World Resources Institute Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) Protocol for its own
operational estate.
Direct emissions are produced by sources which are owned or controlled by the council andinclude electricity use, burning oil or gas for heating, and fuel consumption as a result of
business travel or distribution. Direct emissions correspond to elements within scope 1, 2 and 3
GHG Protocol.
Indirect emissions result from the council’s upstream and downstream activities. These are
typically from outsourced/contract manufacturing, and products and services offered by the
council. Indirect emissions correspond to scope 3 GHG Protocol (excluding employee business
which is included in reporting council direct emissions).
To measure progress to become carbon neutral the council will calculate its gross emissions
and apply emission reductions to produce a net CO2e tonne figure. This is known as a carbon
footprint (our baseline year is 2017).
7

FACTSOTHER
1%SOURCE OF COUNCIL CARBON EMISSIONS(SOURCE CARBON FOOTPRINT REPORT)

TRANSPORT

1,494 tonnes CO e

SITE ELECTRIC

1,652 tonnes CO e

SITE GAS

1,004 tonnes CO e

OTHER (FUEL & WATER)
TOTAL

SITE GAS
24%

2

TRANSPORT
36%

2

2

37 tonnes CO e24,187 tonnes CO e

SITE ELECTRICITY
39%

2

COUNCIL CO2 EMISSIONS 2017

SOURCE OF DISTRICT CARBON EMISSIONS(SOURCE WINACC)

TRANSPORTDOMESTIC ENERGY

2GAS, ELECTRIC , OTHER OIL

193,000 tonnes CO e

COMMERCIAL ENERGY

172,000 tonnes CO e

GAS, ELECTRIC , OTHER OIL

AGRICULTURAL / MISC
GAS, ELECTRIC , OTHER OIL

FORESTRYTOTAL

2COMMERCIAL
ENERGY
27%

TRANSPORT
46%

2

24,000 tonnes CO e2-47,000 tonnes CO e
629,000 tonnes CO e

FORESTRY-8%2

2

The total emissions from Winchester district in 2017 were 834,000 tonnes if the motorway emissions are included.
For the purpose of this Action Plan the scope will exclude motorways as these are national infrastructure and will
require a national response. The council will focus on measures that reduce the need to travel by car though public
transport campaigns and collaborating with the public and private sector to enhance services. In addition it will look
to increase the EV charging network and though procurement and contracts require fleet vehicles to be ultra low
emission.

8

AGRICULTURAL /MISC 4%

287,000 tonnes CO e (plus Motorway 492,000)

DOMESTIC
ENERGY
31%
DISTRICT CO2 EMISSIONS 2017TARGET REDUCTIONS

GHG EMISSIONS BY TRANSPORT TYPE
TRANSPORT | 1,500 tonnes CO2e
Transport accounts for 36% of the council’s
carbon emission and residents saw this as the
top priority for the council to address and asaction for individuals.

Tonnes of CO2e

Type of travel/transport

Council owned vans and cars

66

HGV for environmental services

977

Park & Ride service

386

Staff business travel

64

Total

1,493

Transport accounts for nearly half of the district
carbon emissions and tackling this is the council's
first priority.

TOP 10 EMITTING SITES (HOUSING)
HOUSING | 420 tonnes CO2e

Site

Electricity CO2e

Gas CO2e

Makins Court

15

69

The carbon emissions from sheltered housing
and communal areas is the only data captured
for council housing – as tenanted properties
have their own meters.

Whitewings House

27

50

As the second largest contributor to carbon
emissions in the district reducing domestic energy
consumption must be a target and for residents
to live in a more energy efficient homes.
KEY

Danemark Court

953

Normandy Court

7

47

Matilda Place

11

31

Eastacre824Richard Moss House

24-

Sussex Street

16-

King Harold Court

8

84
77
61
54
42
32
24
16
13

5

Godson House

11

3

Total

136

282

14
418

blue = electricity CO2e
brown = gas CO2e

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

9TARGET REDUCTIONS (CONTINUED)ENERGY | 1,780 tonnes CO2e
The largest part of the council’s existing carbon
emissions are attributable to electricity (39%) andgas usage (24%). Therefore making the estate
more energy efficient has to be a priority, alongwith purchasing and generating renewable energy.
TOP 10 EMITTING SITES (EXCLUDING HOUSING)
Site

River Park Leisure Centre

Electricity CO2e

Gas CO2e424

513

Guildhall

156

61

Car Park - The Brooks

188-

City Offices

82

43

937
217
188
125
86

Kings Court

77

9

Car Park - Chesil Street

60-

Meadowside Leisure Centre

34

20

54

60

Car Park - Tower Street

51

-

51

Bar End Depot

17

19

36

Basepoint

22

-

22

1,111

665

Total

1,776

‘We are protecting an already high quality environmentand rich heritage and nurturing our expanding
communities to maintain this place for our children’schildren.’
CLLR LYNDA MURPHYCABINET MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT,
WINCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

10 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

SECTION 2: PRIORITIESPROPOSED PRIORITY ACTIONS
By focusing on these three priorities, the proposed ten priority actions below will help address nearly all of the council’s carbon emissions by 2024 andcontribute to reducing emissions district wide by 2030.
A full set of actions for each priority is given in the action plan at the end of this document.

TRANSPORT
1,500 tonnes CO2e through council operations
and 287,000 tonnes CO2e district emissions.
Deliver key studies in 2020 to take forward the City ofWinchester Movement Strategy which have a focus on achievingcarbon emission reduction:• Walking & Cycling Strategy• Freight Strategy• Parking & Access Strategy
Develop an expanded network of EV charging points acrossthe district – starting with up to 46 points on the council's own
estate by 2024, adding to existing provision and working withpartners to identify where more are needed;

PROPERTY/HOUSING
420 tonnes CO2e through council operations and
193,000 tonnes CO2e district emissions overall.
To develop a council led pilot Passivehaus housing schemein Micheldever by 2021;
To invest an additional £1m per annum on energy andwater efficiency measures to council housing stock;
To bring forward the Local Plan update with an emphasis
on low carbon housing development by 2021.

Develop additional Park & Ride facilities to increase capacity
starting with the Vaultex site with at least 130 new car park
spaces in 2020.

ENERGY
1,780 tonnes CO2e through council operations and
172,000 tonnes CO2e district emissions overall.
Source 100% of all electricity purchased by the council fromrenewable sources by 2021;
Build or invest in large scale renewable generation project(s),e.g. solar farms, heat pumps, solar-battery car ports,
anaerobic digester, wind farm.

MITIGATION/OFFSETTING
Develop a programme of rewilding starting with planting atleast 100 trees annually on council land;
In collaboration with partners and landowners, identify up
to 100 hectares of land to support additional tree planting
and/or creation of grassland / wetland habitat / rewilding.

11

PROPOSED PRIORITY ACTIONS (CONTINUED)

The indicative impact of the proposed carbon
reduction programme for the council’s operational
estate.

More detailed
reporting

4500

4000

Green
electricity
tariff

3500

TONNES CO²

3000

Specialmaintenance2500

New buildings
on-lineRetrofit
operational
estateElectrify
heating
Decarbonise
landscaping/partial refuse

2000

Decarbonisebusiness car
travel1500

Decarbonise
P&R buses

1500

500

OFFSETTING

0
0

10

20

30

MONTH

12

SECTION 2: PRIORITIES

40

50

60

SECTION 3: DELIVERY PRINCIPLESCOUNCIL PLAN 2020-2025
The council is developing its plan for the next five
years that sets out what it wants to achieve and toaddress the main challenges facing Winchester District.
“Tackling the Climate Emergency and creating agreener district” is a Council Plan priority and will be at
the heart of everything the council does.
The following are identified as ways in which thispriority will be met:
•
•
•

•
•
•
•

•

Attain reduced levels of waste and increased
recycling, exceeding national targets;
Effect an increase in the proportion of journeys
taken by walking, cycling and public transport;
Have an adopted and up to date Local Plan withpositive policies which promote low carbon
development and transport while protecting ourheritage and natural environment, including policies
designed to secure that development and the use ofland contribute to the mitigation of and adaptation
to climate change;
Take a lead with partners and residents to deliver
the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan throughout the
district;
Deliver the City of Winchester Movement Strategy
and prioritise walking, cycling and public transport
throughout the district;
Safeguard our district’s extensive natural habitats
and precious ecosystems by delivering the actions in
our Biodiversity Action Plan;
Ensure all homes are energy efficient and affordable
to run and be innovative in moving the energy
efficiency of new and existing homes towards zerocarbon;Support businesses to grasp opportunities for green
growth; supporting them in meeting the challengeof carbon neutrality.

Place carbon neutrality
at theof all the13
council does

PLACE CARBON NEUTRALITY AT THE

BE A LEADER••

All reports and decisions
must have a sustainability
assessment detailing carbon
emissions
Reward actions and makepeople feel like they
are gaining rather thanhaving things taken away,
highlighting the benefits to begained from taking action

ADAPT OUR WAY OF
WORKING
•

•

•

•

14

OF ALL THE COUNCIL DOES

The Procurement Strategy
will include a requirement toconsider environmental andsocial value within contract
assessment. It will prioritise
e-procurement for all tenders
to reduce paper and energy
Create a culture of sharing
information and ideas acrossthe council, using the intranet,
City Voice and staff forum,
e.g. setting up a Green Group
Enable staff to act and makechanges by providing more
information and advice onfor example recycling, waste,
ways of working
Introduce a corporate
staff training module onsustainability and reducing
energy usage

ADOPT ACOLLABORATIVEAPPROACH, INVOLVEAND ENGAGE
•

•

•

•

Incentivise rather thanpenalise with reference to theintroduction, or use, of taxes
and charges
Recognise the role the council
plays as influencer working
along side other agencies
and partners and developing
collaborative working as
key to delivery of the district
carbon neutrality target
Advise householders on theimmediate and short term
actions they can take toreduce carbon emissions

DELIVER PROJECTSAND INVESTMENTS•

Deliver priority projects early
to secure the greatest carbon
benefit and impact•

All schemes/projects must be
graded with sustainability/
carbon emissions as a viability
factor•Create a grant fund on the
council’s crowd funding
platform to support projects
that enhance sustainability,
environmental quality, green
technology development andinstallation•

Trial and test projects before
large scale application and be
prepared to experiment andlearn for later delivery with an
evolving plan•

Understand the carbon
emission for various industry
sectors, to help target
interventions, support andcampaigns•

Be innovative in seeking
funding to deliver capital
investments

Ensure a district wide
approach to engagement

RESOURCES
The council commits to spending £1M to improve
housing stock energy efficiency and to allocate
budget for carbon saving technologies andstaffing.
In addition, £750,000 funded by prudential
borrowing has been set aside in the capital
programme over three years for projects such as
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
to be identified that generate sufficient income
to cover the cost of borrowing. Where projects
don’t make sufficient return other funding sources
will be explored (e.g. government grants) and anassessment will need to be of the cost versus thebenefit.
In October Cabinet proposed that a “Transitional
Reserve” could help with a number of issues
that require additional funding, many “one off”
in nature, that could be supported from such areserve.
It is proposed to allocate funding from this reserve
for the Re:Fit programme (£80K) to deliver energy
efficiency measures in council housing; and project
research with University of Southampton (£20K) on
decarbonisation of the Winchester district.

CAMPAIGNS AND
COLLABORATION
It is acknowledged that the challenge of being acarbon neutral council and district is somethingthat has to met by all of us working and acting
collectively. Many individuals, businesses, groups
and networks are already taking positive steps toreduce carbon and improve sustainability. It will
be important to recognise their efforts, share what
is happening and harness their efforts. Therefore
campaigns and collaboration form an integral partof the delivery approach and the council will:
•

•

•

•

Organise public Open Forums and an annual
Climate Emergency Conference to bring people
together to review progress and help shape
future activity;
Support campaigns and initiatives across the
district that deliver carbon saving and increasesustainability such as Car Free Day, Winchester
Green Week and Sustainable Food City etc;
Develop and co-design an engagement
strategy with partners, to bring together all
those working on, and interested in achieving,
this ambition to demonstrate and capture thecollective impact of work across the district;Continue the district-wide approach toengagement and work with local groups
to support activities and projects in theircommunities.

SECTION 3: DELIVERY PRINCIPLES

15

SECTION 4: IMPLEMENTATION AND
GOVERNANCE

PROJECT APPRAISALThe Action Plan has identified a number of projects
that are in progress or need to be developed andimplemented. Inevitably over the life time of theplan new projects will come forward and it will be
important to assess these for their contribution tocarbon elimination or reduction and enhancing
sustainability. Therefore the council will introduce
new assessment criteria in order for all projects andactivities to be scored against the environmental
impact, using climate related metrics to ensurethat performance monitoring is achievable. All
projects will have to track climate/carbon andenvironmental performance to enable the impact
to be measured and reported.

MONITORING AND
EVALUATIONThe council will annually review delivery of
the Action Plan and monitor progress towards
achieving carbon neutrality. It will hold publicforums providing updates including plans for theforthcoming period. An annual Climate Emergency
Conference will be arranged to bring together thewide range of stakeholders and interested parties
in this agenda to review performance andplan the route forward.

16‘Keeping what makes this district special is aforemost priority – our high quality naturaland built environments are something weare dedicated to protecting and enhancing
for future generations to enjoy. This means
we have declared a Climate Emergency
and are working with residents, businesses,
stakeholders and specialist agencies toensure we put all we need into making local
life more environmentally sustainable.’
RICHARD BOTHAMSTRATEGIC DIRECTOR
WINCHESTER CITY COUNCILGOVERNANCE | CITY COUNCIL
The council has established a project group to develop this Action Plan and this will evolve into thegovernance arrangement to ensure its delivery and achievement of the target outcomes, monitoring
progress towards carbon neutrality for the council by 2024 and the district by 2030.
Group

Members

ClimateEmergency
Board

•
•
•

Portfolio Holder – Environment•
Strategic Director
Corporate Head of Service – Engagement••

Implementation
Group

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Service Lead – Community and Wellbeing •Sustainability Officer
Programme Manager
Heads of Programme
Corporate Head of Housing
Service Lead – New Homes Delivery
Service Lead – Housing Operations andCommunity Safety
Finance Manager – Capital and Treasury
Corporate Head of Regulatory
Service Lead – Environmental Services
Senior Environmental and Planning
LawyerNatural Environment and Recreation
Manager
Service Lead – Built Environment
Strategic Planning Manager
Service Lead - Communications
Residents•
Stakeholders
Community groups etc

•
•
•
•
•

ClimateEmergency
Open Forum

•
•
•
•
•
•

Roles/reporting
Overall responsibility for Action
Plan delivery remaining on
target and to budget
Annual report to Cabinet
Quarterly report to Scrutiny
Committee
Responsible for the deliveryof projects and reporting
progress to monthly ProgrammeManagement Group and
Executive Leadership Board

Public engagement, information
sharing, reporting

SECTION 4: IMPLEMENTATION AND GOVERNANCE 17

GOVERNANCE | DISTRICTAs stated in the declaration this is an ambitious
carbon neutrality target for both the council
and the district and it will only be achieved byworking together and acting collectively.
Rather than create a dedicated partnership,
which has the potential to be resource intensive
and become seen as the responsible body fortaking action, it will be more effective to link
to existing groups and networks to influenceand support them to mainstream carbon
reduction and sustainability into their work
programmes. This will ensure an ownershipand recognition that action is need from all.
This flexible arrangement will require strong
communications support so that information
flows between the groups and organisations
and the council can play a central role in this.
The arrangement also allows for collaborations
to develop on projects or in response to funding
opportunities, drawing from across a wide
range of parties and sectors.
The following table identities some of thesegroups, but is not intended to be fixed or list
everyone that should be included.
It will be important to have the support oforganisations with the experience and capability
to provide robust evidence, check facts andanalyse data for project development as well as
assessing the progress toward carbon neutrality.
It is proposed therefore that a technical groupis used to include (but not limited to) WinACC,
Friends of the Earth, Carbon Footprint and the
University of Southampton.

18

PUBLICBUSINESS

Hampshire County SustainableCouncilBusiness Network
Enterprise M3 LEP Hampshire
Chamber ofParish/town
Commerce
councils
Winchester
Partner LAs
Business Strategy(Eastleigh/EastGroup
Hampshire)
Business
Improvement
Hospital
District (BID)
Utility companies

ENVIRONMENTCOMMUNITYEDUCATION

RURAL

WinACC
Extinction
Rebellion
Friends of theEarth
Hampshire
Climate Action
Winchester Green
Week
Sustrans
Wildlife Trust

Housing
Associations
Residents
Associations
Older Persons
Partnership
Health &Wellbeing
partnerships

Universities
Colleges
Schools

NFU
South Downs
National Park
ActionHampshire
Landowners

SUPPORTING INFORMATION & BACKGROUND DOCUMENTSCONTEXT AND POLICY••••

Global challenge
International, national andlocal policy context
Climate change overview
Previous carbon reduction
work

SECTION 4: IMPLEMENTATION AND GOVERNANCECARBON NEUTRALITY
DEFINITION, SCOPE AND
REPORTING•••

Carbon neutrality definition
Climate emergency
reporting
Carbon emissions evidence
base

SUMMARY OF ENGAGEMENT••••

Winchester City Council
service leads and teammanagers
Stakeholders
Members
Community

WINCHESTER CARBON NEUTRALITYACTION PLAN
2020 - 2030

PURPOSE OF THE
ACTION PLAN
This Action Plan will focus on the how thecouncil aims to achieve carbon neutrality:•

Actions it will take to reduce/eliminate or
off-set its own carbon emissions;•

Actions it can take to support and help
others; individuals, businesses, agencies
and organisations etc., to take action sothat the district becomes carbon neutral;•

Actions that promote climate resilience
including biodiversity; waste andrecycling, planning and development;
and commerce and economy.

The Plan will require annual review to enable
new issues, challenges, opportunities andsolutions to be considered, and projects
added over the life of the document.

19

WINCHESTER CARBON NEUTRALITY ACTION PLAN
PRIORITYCOUNCIL 2024

All council pool cars, vans andmaintenance vehicles to be ultra low
emission or electric by 2022.

Introduce two electric pool cars in 2020.

Pilot the use of electric refuse freighter
and/or Park & Ride bus by 2022.
TRANSPORTCOUNCIL
1,500 tonnes CO2e
DISTRICT
287,000 tonnes

CO2e

20

DISTRICT 2030

CARBON EFFECT LEAD

Develop an expanded network of EV
charging points across the district – startingwith up to 46 points on the council's own
Reduction
estate by 2024, adding to existing provision
and working with partners to identify wheremore are needed.
Facilitate roll out of private charging
facilities, in new commercial and housing
Reduction
developments.
Deliver key studies in 2020 to take forward
the Winchester Movement Strategy whichhave a focus on achieving carbon emission
reduction:
Reduction• Walking & Cycling Strategy;• Freight Strategy;• Parking & Access Strategy.

Environmental Services- Public Protection

Environmental Services- Public Protection

Major Projects

Only zero-carbon/ultra low emission
vehicles to be leased by the council from2024.

Require buses and taxis to be low emission/
alternative fuel vehicles by 2030.

Elimination
Reduction

Environmental Services- Public Protection

All refuse/bus fleet to be minimum Euro 6
standard by 2020 and ultra low emission
by 2028.

Develop additional Park & Ride facilities toincrease capacity starting with the Vaultex
site with 130 initial new car park spaces
2020, increasing to 300 in 2021.

Reduction

Major Projects

In additional to home working expand
remote working in other / partner
locations across the district to reduce
unnecessary travel and the need forcentral office accommodation.

Seek investment to deliver smart mobility
projects especially at Park & Ride sites andkey gateways to the city and district by2021.

Elimination
Reduction

HR
Major Projects
Sustainability

Reduction

Major Projects

Implement differential charging for low
emission vehicles in council car parks.
Collaborate with Hampshire County
Council and private operators to expand
and enhance public transport services (busand rail), including access, frequency andaffordability.

PRIORITY

COUNCIL 2024

HOUSING /PROPERTY
COUNCIL
420 tonnes CO2e

Complete a “Re:Fit” review of all
corporate property and determine
a “retro-fit” programme of energy
measures (funded directly through energy
savings).
To install additional energy efficiency
measures (digital lighting, solar PV etc.)
to communal areas of council shelteredhousing schemes by 2021.
Develop a sustained campaign to provide
information, advice, signposting witha platform to share ideas through thecouncil website.

DISTRICT 2030

CARBON EFFECT

Through the LEAP programme facilitate energy
efficiencies in homes in fuel poverty and support Reduction
vulnerable tenants.
Deliver campaigns to inspire people to reduceenergy consumption and provide energy advice
for the home, helping tenants and homeowners
switch energy supplier, for example.
Provide and share information with residents on
how to live more sustainably and where localgroups are so they can get further support intheir communities.

Reduction

Reduction

To develop a council led pilot Passivhaus housing
Reduction
scheme in Micheldever by 2021.

DISTRICT
193,400 tonnes

CO2e

All new council homes will be built to thehighest efficiency standards by 2024.
To bring forward the Local Plan update with anemphasis on low carbon housing development
by 2021.
To invest an additional £1m per annum onenergy and water efficiency measures to council
housing stock with the aim of all properties
meeting an EPC standard of C by 2027.

Housing
Communications
Sustainability
Housing
Communications
Sustainability
Housing
Housing

Reduction

Built Environment

Reduction

Housing

CARBON EFFECTLEAD

COUNCIL 2024

DISTRICT 2030

ENERGYCOUNCIL
1,780 tonnes CO2e

Source 100% of all electricity purchasedby the council from renewable sources by
2021.
Install additional solar panels on council
owned sites and identify sites forrenewable energy generation in the Local
Plan.

Undertake research into suitable alternatives
to natural gas especially in relation to local
Elimination
generation potential.
Build or invest in large scale renewablegeneration project(s), e.g. solar farms, heat
Elimination
pumps, solar-battery car ports, anaerobic
digestor, wind farm, hydropower.

CO2e

Housing

Reduction

PRIORITY

DISTRICT
172,000 tonnes

LEAD

Estates
Sustainability
Estates
Sustainability

21

ENERGYCONTINUED

Through the procurement strategy purchase/lease only highly energy efficient/low carbon
technologies/materials.
As leases and contracts expire renew withpurchase/lease of energy efficient electricalequipment and appliances.

Explore the feasibility of developing ahydrogen generating plant as a source of
renewable fuel and to divert waste fromland fill.
Engage with the district’s largest businesses
to work jointly on initiatives that reduceenergy use or generate renewable energy,
e.g. roof-top solar PV on commercial
buildings.

Estates
Sustainability

Elimination

Procurement
EconomySustainability

PRIORITYCOUNCIL 2024

DISTRICT 2030

CARBON EFFECT LEAD

MITIGATING /OFFSETTING

Develop a programme of rewilding starting withplanting at least 100 trees annually on Council
land.

In collaboration with partners to identify
at least 100 hectares of land to support
additional tree planting and/or creation ofgrassland/wetland habitat.

RemovalThrough the council’s programme ofenvironmental improvements to play areas
include provision of green/natural features.
BIODIVERSITY

Continue to deliver a programme of works
which protect and support our existing tree
stock.

Ensure the design of new housing andregeneration developments include theRemovalcreation of green open spaces, and theinclusion of green roofs and green corridors.
Plant new woodlands to both increase
biodiversity habitats, for health andwellbeing and to act as carbon sinks
Removalfor offsetting in partnership with key
stakeholders and landowners.

Increase the number of wild flower meadows,
grassland and wetland on council owned land.

RECYCLING AND
WASTE

22

NaturalEnvironment andRecreation

NaturalEnvironment andRecreation

RemovalContinue (and accelerate) the delivery of thedigital transformation projects, to enable accessto services on line, to reduce printing.

Reduce levels of contamination in therecycling waste streams through clearer
information and guidance.

Manage print runs and stock control to avoid
waste.

Add further waste streams to introduce
recycling services such as food andadditional plastics.

Reduction

Install recycling bins in the city centre.

Reduction

Reduction
Environmental
ServicesPRIORITY

PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENTPRIORITYCOUNCIL 2024

The Local Plan review will set policies fordevelopment standards and land use that reducecarbon and increase sustainability including
policies designed to secure that development andthe use of land contribute to the mitigation ofand adaptation to climate change.
In council development schemes start
incorporating environmental measures now
and incorporate them into the design of future
projects.

DISTRICT 2030

CARBON EFFECT LEAD

All major projects will incorporate carbon
reduction features and new schemes to meet
BREEAM excellent development standards.

Reduction
Offsetting

Use new schemes as an opportunity to deploy
environmental technology and green design
as exemplars in the market place and attract
investment.

Reduction

Planning
Major Projects

Through review of the Local Plan introduce theuse of S106 obligations to pay for carbon neutral
initiatives/offsetting.

Reduction
Elimination

DISTRICT 2030

CARBON EFFECT LEAD

Develop a low carbon economy by exploiting business opportunities to develop, test and deploy
technologies and provide support to business to take up these opportunities.

Reduction
Elimination

Work with major festivals in their event planning to include measures to reduce transport andwaste.
Work with agencies and partners to provide a local business improvement programme – e.g.
green impact scheme, to focus on energy, transport and waste.

Reduction
Elimination
Reduction
Elimination
Reduction
Elimination
Offsetting

COMMERCE AND
ECONOMYIn local communities develop projects and networks that help facilitate sharing economy
initiatives – resource libraries.

Create a grant fund on the council’s crowd funding platform to launch in 2020 to support
projects that enhance sustainability, environmental quality, green technology development andinstallation.
Work with businesses to create circular economy initiatives that use waste as resources.

EconomyCommunities

Reduction
Elimination
Reduction
Elimination

23

AFTERWORD
It’s an old adage that the only thing we can rely uponis change.
And in a changing world it’s the role of districtauthorities such as Winchester City Council to ensurethat the place we look after remains protected andis also future proofed to allow the next generations
to flourish. We have articulated a clear focus for the
next ten years - and that’s around ensuring that thewhole district becomes carbon neutral by 2030. Ourorganisation will lead the way - we have our own goalof being carbon neutral by 2024 - and we need others
to join us so we can deliver what we need to do tocreate a sustainable future.
As Chief Executive I am concerned with getting things
right for the place we govern. This means striking
a balance and working towards goals that we areconfident benefit the greatest possible number ofpeople now and in decades to come. Winchesteris already a great district, and if our generation is
to have a legacy, I hope that in decades from now
people will look back at the way our communities
pulled together to make a low carbon lifestyle thenorm – and are proud to be a part of this wonderfulplace.

Laura Taylor
Chief Executive
Winchester City Council

24