Lancaster City Council is celebrating after topping a leaderboard for district councils in an assessment of the actions being taken to achieve net zero. Climate Emergency UK created the scorecards by assessing seven areas: buildings and heating; transport; governance and finance; planning; biodiversity; collaboration and engagement, and waste reduction and food.
The district council average is 29% and only four district councils scored over 50%, with Lancaster the only district council to score over 60%.
The full results of the Climate Emergency UK scorecard can be found at councilclimatescorecards.uk. (Published 18 October 2023)
Congratulations to colleagues in the Planning and Climate Change team for their success at this year’s Local Government Chronicle Awards. On Wednesday evening they picked up the top award in the Net Zero category for their work on the Climate Emergency Local Plan Review, as featured with Kevin McCloud on Channel 4's 'The Great Climate Fight'.
We have a Statutory Duty with regards to biodiversity and is required under the Environment Act 2021 to publish a Biodiversity Report, setting out what it has done and plans to do to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the District and how that will be monitored. The Biodiversity First Consideration Report (approved at Cabinet 4 June 2024) sets out our current position and steps we intend to take to fulfil this duty.
Work is underway this week to enhance a well-loved walking route in Lancaster. Thanks to funding via local developments, an area between the A6 Scotforth Road and the railway bridge at Uggle Lane in Scotforth, will be turned into a small nature reserve with a renewed accessible path and a new bench for residents to sit and enjoy the space.
The Planning and Climate Change team have been shortlisted for the MJ 2024 Awards in the category 'Leadership in Responding to Climate Change'. The winners will be announced 21 June 2024.
We were delighted to host the very first North West Officers and Portfolio Holders Climate Change Event Wedneday 22 May 2024. We are passionate about tackling the impact of climate change with the reduction of direct and indirect carbon emissions, so it was wonderful to welcome representatives from councils and portfolio holders from across the North West at Lancaster Town Hall. The inaugural meeting provided the chance for everyone to get their heads together and start shaping the future vision for how collectively we can use the network to strive for positive action in addressing opportunities for a greener future from transport, energy and planning to housing and education and more.
Excellent news - Morecambe's two bathing beaches have today been awarded Seaside Awards by Keep Britain Tidy!
Make a positive difference to the environment this summer and start recycling your household batteries with our kerbside collection scheme. (20 May 2024)
You might have seen us out and about this weekend re-sowing wildflower meadows. We've scattered some annuals to give them a colour boost. We also created and sowed a new wildflower bed at Delamere Avenue in Heysham with both annuals and perennials. (20 May 2024)
Work is underway this week to enhance a well-loved walking route in Lancaster. Thanks to funding via local developments, an area between the A6 Scotforth Road and the railway bridge at Uggle Lane in Scotforth, will be turned into a small nature reserve with a renewed accessible path and a new bench for residents to sit and enjoy the space. Work on the footpath, land owned by Lancaster City Council, is expected to be completed by the end of May. The project has been made possible through developer contributions, also known as 'S106 contributions', paid to mitigate the impact of new development. A newly formed Friend's Group will oversee and help protect the area for the benefit of local residents. (16 May 2024)
We're proud to be supporting The Plot North Lancashire which is currently seeking around 20 people to join its crop-share scheme for the coming season. This is a great opportunity to support a local veg growing project and in return you get a share of the crops produced on the farm each week between June and November. More info and sign up: https://foodfutures.org.uk/the-plot/ (14 May 2024)
You'll see we are out and about #mowing the #grass. Some we cut entirely, some bits we leave, some bits we seed. (2 May 2024).
Williamson Park, The Storey and City Lab will benefit from heat decarbonisation and improved energy efficiency works that are expected to annually save over 250 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to removing gas from 110 homes.
30.08.2023 / 07.09.2023 - If you are interested in knowing more about the development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) for our district, you can register to attend our online event on the evening of Thursday, 14th September. In the afternoon, we will also be running a workshop for businesses or organisations who may feel they would be a stakeholder in the LAEP. This work is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
08.09.2023 / 16.09.2023 - We’re pleased to be working in partnership with local energy saving experts Green Rose Community Interest Company to deliver two energy saving workshops to help residents reduce their energy bills this winter.
Passivhaus Homes in the Disrict
25.07.2023 - The council has been delighted to provide direct support to 20 new build energy saving ‘Passivhaus’ Homes in Halton, ‘fit for the 21st century'.
Council Housing Stock
14.06.2022 - We have a duty to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (Home Energy Conservation Act 1995) and to report to the Secretary of State issues relating to energy efficiency and conservation in its administrative area. The HECA report (May 2021) sets out energy conservation measures that the council considers practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in significant improvement in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in its area. More details here.
27.02.2022 - Lancaster City Council is helping its tenants tackle rising energy costs and climate change by improving the energy efficiency of its homes with a whole house improvement programme. The refurbishment and retrofitting of 150 council homes in the most urgent need of improvement is scheduled to take four years to complete. More details here.
22.06.2021 - The homes strategy sets out a commitment that the council will bring all existing council properties up to EPC C rating by 2030. More details here.
22.06.2021 - If you are a new tenant, we will contact you when you first move in to offer energy advice. More details here.
22.06.2021 - The Green Homes Grant scheme seeks to improve the energy efficiency of homes. More details here.
11.03.2021 - Installation of solar panels on the roofs of housing schemes at Morley Close/Price Close. More details here.
Council's buildings including Salt Ayre Centre
04.03.2022 - Reducing the carbon footprint of the council's buildings Lancaster City Council is to spend around £1million on improving the energy efficiency of its buildings as part of ambitious plans to make its services net zero carbon by 2030. Building improvement works will help cut CO2 emissions. More details here.
15.09.2021 - Lancaster City Council has been awarded up to £150,000 to find creative and innovative solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of its buildings. More details here
23.07.2021 - Salt Ayre Leisure Centre is the biggest emitter of CO2 of all the council’s buildings. A plan to decarbonise the building is well underway and will eliminate direct emissions, reducing the centre’s overall carbon footprint by as much as 642 tonnes (the equivalent of heating 600 homes). We’re achieving this by the installation of an air source heat pump, glazing, and the building of a new solar farm on the former Salt Ayre landfill site. More details here.
Salt Ayre Leisure Centre has installed two new bike racksat the front of the building, after customer feedback requested more. The new racks will join an existing set in the same design, which were replaced as part of building maintenance which took place during the pandemic-related lock downs. The introduction of more bike storage facilities aims to encourage even more of Salt Ayre’s customers to cycle to the facility rather than drive, aligned with the council’s Carbon Zero 2030 pledge.
Salt Ayre decarbonisation project gets underway - Work has begun on a multi-million pound project that will eliminate onsite CO2 emissions generated by Salt Ayre Leisure Centre in an ambitious bid to be one of the first such facilities in the UK to be net carbon zero (28 June 2021).
This week, (April 2021) Lancaster City Council was successful in gaining planning permission for a new project that will significantly reduce CO2 emissions generated by Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. Permission has been granted to build a new solar farm on the adjacent disused landfill site and Salt Ayre's gas boilers will also be replaced by air source heat pumps. Funding for the £6.8 million scheme has come from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which provides funding for capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects. The scheme will reduce emissions by 439 tonnes a year, which is the equivalent of heating 406 homes across the district, and we're aiming to deliver it by the end of September this year.
Salt Ayre Leisure Centre Moves To Cut Plastic Waste (April 2021) - Customers and staff at Salt Ayre are doing their bit for the Carbon Zero+ cause, with the introduction of a new free water dispenser, which aims to encourage the use of refillable water bottles rather than single use plastic.
11.03.2021 - Solar Farm - reduce CO2 emissions generated by Salt Ayre Leisure Centre - Lancaster City Council has successfully secured £6.8m to significantly reduce CO2 emissions generated by Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. The funding has come from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which was launched in autumn 2020 and offers funding for capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects. The money will be used to build a solar farm on the adjacent disused landfill site at Salt Ayre to generate electricity, which in turn will be provided to the leisure centre using a direct wire. More details here.
Transport & Travel
03.10.2023 - Want to get involved and share your ideas on how your local cycling and walking networks could be improved. More details here.
10.02.2023 -Great to see our partnership with Co-Wheels announced as finalists in the iNetwork Awards in not one but two categories. The iNetwork Innovation Awards cast a light on projects and teams that have delivered transformation and excellence in public service delivery. Our Co-Wheels car scheme has been nominated in the Transforming And Innovating Public Services and Partner Excellence categories. Find out more about the scheme https://www.co-wheels.org.uk/lancaster
09.02.2023 - Air Quality:The Council wins government £54,576 funding to encourage take up of electric taxis through behaviour and awareness campaign and a discounted leasing scheme. Development of local taxi policy which will support the uptake of electric vehicles. More details here.
10.11.2022 - We're thrilled that our car share partnership with Co-Wheels has made the list of the top 50 initiatives helping the UK to reach Net Zero. More details here.
Lancashire’s first electric bin wagon takes to the road, A 27-tonne electric bin wagon has hit the streets of the Lancaster District. More details here.
28.05.2021 - Co-Wheels launch fully electric car club in the Lancaster district - We've teamed up with Co-Wheels Car Club to launch an all-electric car share club in the Lancaster district. It's part of our ambitious plans to become net zero carbon by 2030. Fully electric vehicles will be available to hire in Lancaster city centre and Morecambe town centre (close to the promenade) from as little as £5.50 an hour. More details here.
05.03.2021 - Our conversion to an electric fleet is progressing - The diesel fleet accounts for 39% of the council’s direct emissions; 60% of fleet emissions are generated from just 26 refuse collection vehicles. Clearly, if we’re to achieve Net Zero by 2030, we have to reduce our fleet’s footprint as a priority. As part of our fleet replacement plan we've purchased 14 electric vans for our repairs and maintenance department. More details here.
20.12.2019 - The Council has just licensed itsfirst electric private hire vehicle, which just so happens to be one of the most sought after and prestigious cars on the market today – a Model 3 Tesla. More details here.
12.02.2019 - £630K boost for electric taxis - Lancaster City Council is delighted to have been successful in a funding bid for the installation of new electric charge points for taxis. More details here.
Planning and Land Use
23.11.2023: Council’s climate change work highlighted by Channel 4, Aired on Wednesday evening (November 22), The Great Climate Fight followed Kevin in his quest to examine the opportunities and barriers we face in reaching net zero.28.06.2023 - We consulted on the proposal for Burrow Beck Solar Farm prior to pre-application
01.03.2023 - Working on planning policies which will see people paying less to heat their new build homes. More details here.
23.02.2023 - Planning policies to help protect properties in the district. More details here.
09.11.2022 - Wonderful to see the work by our planning team on Eden Project North and tackling the climate emergency being recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute in their digital series. The series explores the intrinsic role of planning in tackling climate change and paving the way to a sustainable future. More detail here.
22.08.2022 - Rapidar Radar monitoring stations have been installed this week on the Stone Jetty in Morecambe and close to the shore near to the Venus and Cupid at Scalestones Point. More details here.
Flooding & Coast
10.09.2023 - The first meeting of a special design committee to look at developing nature-based solutions to combat flooding along the coastline at Hest Bank will take place on Tuesday 17th October from 6pm-8pm.
22.08.2023 - Come and find out today about plans to safeguard coastal communities from climate change. Our Future Coast event is taking place until 7pm at Slyne-with-Hest Memorial Hall. It is one of 25 projects to receive funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help local areas become more resilient to flooding and erosion. More details here.
14.08.2023 - Our Future Coast, a project where we are engaging with the community to codesign nature based solutions to promote salt marsh regeneration. Salt marsh is such a valuable ecosystem in many ways, apart from being a unique habitat for many rare species of flora and fauna it also provides a fantastic natural flood defence, as well as a significant carbon sink. As part of the project we will also be looking at sediment monitoring methods, biodiversity, and carbon storage. Find out more at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ofc / A drop-in event so people can find out more about plans to safeguard coastal communities from climate change is being held on Tuesday August 22 at Slyne-with-Hest Memorial Hall from 12pm-7pm
11.08.2023 - A drop-in event so people can find out more about plans to safeguard coastal communities from climate change is being held on Tuesday August 22 at Slyne-with-Hest Memorial Hall from 12pm-7pm. More details here.
01.10.2021 - A major flood risk management scheme on the River Lune, designed to protect hundreds of properties from the risk of flooding, has launched today.
Biodiversity & Parks
22.04.2024 - The Council will be celebrating Earth Day on Monday April 22 by giving out wildflower seeds alongside the opportunity to find out more about the work it’s doing to tackle the climate emergency.
14.09.2023 - Our grassland management team has been cutting and collecting some the #wildflower meadows this week. More details here.
19.07.2023 Want to take part in 'loveparks week' from 28 July to 1 August 2023
18.07.23 Five of our parks and open spaces have once again received the coveted Green Flag status for 2023.
26.04.2023 - We're starting on a flower meadow project to fill 12 acres of land with wildflowers, in collaboration with Playstation and Eden Project's National Wildflower Centre. We are beginning outside the Midland Hotel on April 27 at 6-7.30pm. More details here.
25.04.2023 - We're supporting the #citynaturechallenge again this year. So, why not head to your local park, open space or Williamson Park and see what you can find here.
03.04.2023 - In the run up to Earth Day (April 22), some of our Planning and Climate Change Policy officers have given talks and held workshops with local schools and community groups to discuss ways in which locals can take part in helping the environment and also sustain local #biodiversity. #earthday. More details here
31.03.2023 - Thank you to all the children who came out to help plant fruit trees and bushes on Ryelands estate in a joint project with Food Futures. The edible fruit produced will be free for the public to pick and enjoy. More details here.
28.03.2023 - An avenue of cherry trees, hedges and snowdrops have been planted in Ryelands Park to enhance the environment and make the park a more diverse and vibrant place is alsohelping us tackle climate change. More details here.
14.02.2023 - A HUGE thank you to the 53 pupils and teachers from Ryelands School. who rolled up their sleeves, got digging and planted hedges and snowdrops last week in Ryelands Park. It's just one part of our collaboration project with the Tree Council and local landscape architect David Redmore to enhance the #environment, boost #biodiversity and make the park a more vibrant place to be. More details here.
07.02.2023 - Cherry Tree planting at Ryelands Park in Lancaster. With the help of 35 volunteers we planted lines of hedges. They will improve the visual appearance of the park and enhance the environment too. View our video here.
13.01.2023 - We seeded at Silverdale, Wray and along the Bay gateway. View our video here.
02.11.2022 - Another wonderful wildflower haven awaits - this time in Silverdale. Thank you to all the residents, pupils from Silverdale St John's CofE Primary and the AONB Arnside and Silverdale for joining us yesterday to plant 460 plug plants and 600 spring bulbs and transform this patch of land. View our video here.
30.If you drove through Wray last week and wondered what we were doing in relation to grassland management. View the video here.
26.04.2022 - Volunteers sought for wildflower seed sowing event - Residents are being asked to take part in a seed sowing event to help create a wildflower haven – starting in Heysham. More details here.
14.06.2021 - Grassland Management Strategy increases biodiversity - You may have spotted areas around the district where we haven't cut the grass. We are in the process of implementing our new Grassland Management Strategy to increase biodiversity, improve the workload planning for staff and to help us achieve our climate change aspirations.
04.03.2021 - First delivery of wildflower seeds (4 March 2021) - We're delighted to have received the first delivery of wildflower seeds, which next month we will be sowing at some of our pollinator designation areas. Not only will they provide natural beauty to our district, they will also benefit the environment and wildlife. More details here.
26.02.2021 - Crook O’Lune beauty spot gets new lease of life as a wildflower meadow (March 2021) - A beauty spot at the Crook O’Lune near Lancaster, known locally as Hermitage Field, is getting a new lease of life as a wildflower meadow. Councillor Kevin Frea, Cabinet member for climate action and member of Crook O’Lune Advisory Committee, said: “The creation and development of a wildflower meadow at Hermitage Field by local people that are passionate about the conservation of this special place, has provided the council with another perfect opportunity to breathe new life into this treasured beauty spot. More details here.
16.09.2019 - The council has joined forces with the Lune Valley Flood Forum for a new event aimed at encouraging landowners and anyone with an interest to find out more about the benefits of tree planting. More details here.
30.07.2019 - Help us to plant a million trees across north Lancashire as part of the Northern Forest project. More details here.
Waste Reduction & Food
21.12.2023: North Lancashire wins Sustainable Food award - North Lancashire was one of seven places across the UK that received a prestigious Sustainable Food Places (SFP) Silver award; recognising the outstanding efforts of individuals, organisations, businesses and community groups from across our region in promoting healthy, sustainable and local food to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges; from food poverty and diet-related ill-health to the disappearance of family farms and the loss of independent food retailers.
28.11.2023: More than 1,300 local residents have registered to recycle their coffee pods at home with Podback. The pods we've collected so far during our fortnightly recycling collections were picked up from our depot this week and on their way to be recycled in the UK
22.10.2023 - It's #RecyclingWeek and the Big Recycling Hunt is on. Remember, you can recycle most cleaning bottles. Don’t let those bottles get away, join the nationwide hunt and find those trigger sprays, bleach and detergent bottles. Give them a quick rinse, lid back on, squash them and put them in the recycling. The cleaning never stops, so most of us are already recycling cleaning bottles. For more info on what can be recycled: www.lancaster.gov.uk/recycling
20.10.2023 - Today is ‘National Reuse Day’. - a special day organised by Freegle and when organisations, communities and individuals are encouraged to think about reusing more and wasting less.
06.09.2023 / 14.09.2023 - Anyone taking part in the waste and recycling trial in Heysham might be interested in attending Lancaster University's next Plastic Packaging in Peoples' Lives event. Our waste and recycling team will also be there to answer all your household waste related questions. Check out the video to find out how important it is to wash, squash and sort your recyclables in readiness for collection. Details here and more here.
02.12.2022 - Our Community Hub is working with Morecambe Bay Foodbank at Tesco in Carnforth They’ll be there today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) between 11am and 2pm to provide help and advice on city council services and shopping lists for suggested foodbank donations. More details here.
15.12.2021 - Putting food at the heart of the climate debate as the eyes of the world turn to COP26, the Council has signed the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration. More details here.
10.05.2021 - Residents in Heysham are doing their bit towards tackling climate change by taking part in a food waste recycling trial.The aim of the trial which started this week is to test the impact of additional food waste collections on the council’s current waste and recycling services and for the county council to test its sorting and composting process. More details here.
26.03.2021 - Lancaster District Food Poverty Alliance launches five-year action plan which aims to ensure all residents have access to affordable, nourishing food, has launched a five-year action plan. More details here.
19.02.2019 - Poster competition puts plastic pollution in the spotlight. More details here.
Air Quality
05.12.2023 - We want residents' views on the local environment. What are your perceptions and understanding of environmental issues, such as air quality? From using public transport to heating your home using - what climate change challenges do you personally face? Let us know keepconnected.lancaster.gov.uk/aq
16.06.2022 - Air pollution campaign to tackle solid fuel appliances. The council has been awarded £198,794 to help tackle air pollution through the Defra Air Quality Grant. The new funding will allow the council to increase the monitoring of air pollution and improve people’s awareness about the risks of using solid fuel appliances both inside and outside our homes. More details here.
23.12.2021 - Carbon dioxide monitors were trialled at 10 pubs and restaurants in a bid to help businesses improve ventilation, reducing airborne Covid-19 particles and the risk of transmission. More details here.
21.02.2019 - Launch of air quality survey asking for people’s views on how to improve air quality in the district as it looks to produce a new action plan. More details here.
Collaboration and engagement
21.12.2023 - North Lancashire wins Sustainable Food award - North Lancashire was one of seven places across the UK that received a prestigious Sustainable Food Places (SFP) Silver award; recognising the outstanding efforts of individuals, organisations, businesses and community groups from across our region in promoting healthy, sustainable and local food to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges; from food poverty and diet-related ill-health to the disappearance of family farms and the loss of independent food retailers.
03.04.2023 - In the run up to Earth Day (April 22), some of our Planning and Climate Change Policy officers have given talks and held workshops with local schools and community groups to discuss ways in which locals can take part in helping the environment and also sustain local #biodiversity. #earthday
22.11.2022 - Reflecting on ‘Adapting Together: How can we all play a part in climate action - The event aimed to consider how designers can create and support participation in climate action, and what action really looks like beyond purchasing decisions which brought discussion back round to sites and issues in the Lancashire area, and was hosted by Mark Davies, our Chief Executive. More details here and here.
17.06.2022 - Local businesses are being invited to a breakfast event to find out more about reducing carbon emissions and taking the next steps towards net zeroMore details here.
27.03.2022 - Council and its partners will be hosting district-wide conversations on tackling and addressing the climate emergency following a successful bid to join the UK’s Local Climate Engagement Programme
24.11.2020 - People’s Jury returns its verdict on climate change. More details here.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund & Others
16.05.2023 - Twenty two local projects are the latest to benefit from the Lancaster district’s share of money allocated through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), some of them addressing climate change action. More details here.
30.01.2023 - Eight local projects will be the first to benefit from the Lancaster district’s share of money allocated through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). More details here.
31.10.2022 - Are you a local construction company, contractor or tradesperson who is passionate about doing your bit to tackle climate change with measures to improve the energy performance of properties across the Lancaster district? More details here12.04.2022 - Lancaster City Council is inviting residents to make a positive difference to the environment by using its new household battery recycling scheme. More details here.
07.04.2022 - The Council and Lancaster and Morecambe College are teaming up to hold an information and training event to support the growth of green jobs across the construction and engineering sectors. More details here.
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