Policy & Resources Committee members met last month and confirmed three projects they will proceed with using the £7.8 million Carbon Neutral Fund. It will be used to provide renewable sources of heating, refurbish street lighting and trial new techniques to rejuvenate and rehabilitate concrete roads.
The funding is being made available over a two-year period for the first time, offering council services greater certainty and flexibility to plan and deliver projects.
The Carbon Neutral Fund is part of the Carbon Neutral 2030 programme which launched in 2021. Priorities for the fund are projects which will reduce carbon emissions, conserve or improve biodiversity, or help the city adapt to the effects of climate change. Since 2019, the Carbon Neutral Fund and the one-off Climate Action Fund have funded projects totalling £8.9m.
Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council and Chair of the Policy & Resources Committee, said: “Almost every day we hear about the devastating effects of climate change, from the destruction of communities due to unprecedented severe weather to the drastic loss of species. Reversing the effects of the climate and biodiversity emergency is an enormous task, but we will continue to do what we can within the budgetary restrictions of the council.
“These projects will support 3 key strands of our Carbon Neutral 2030 programme: carbon reduction, climate adaptation, and conserving and enhancing biodiversity.”
Approved projects are:
Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing Project
Funding will be used to install boreholes for ground source heat pumps which will help heat 212 new council homes through a communal heating system. The pumps will provide a renewable source of heat for years to come while saving residents money.
Seafront Heritage Lighting Restoration
Funding will be used to restore the historic Grade II listed cast iron street lighting columns along Brighton seafront. By refurbishing existing iron columns – as opposed to recasting – the council will make significant carbon savings. Funding will also be used to replace existing lanterns with more energy-efficient LED bulbs which will help to reduce carbon emissions and the council’s energy bill for street lighting.
Concrete road lifecycle extension programme
Funding will be used to trial the use of new techniques to rejuvenate and rehabilitate 14 failing concrete roads across the city. These low-carbon techniques can extend the lifecycle of these assets by up to 10 years.