Published: Friday, 1st September 2023
The Norfolk Climate Change partnership, which the borough council is part of, has been successful in securing government funding to create a Net Zero Community in west Norfolk.
Norfolk Net Zero Communities is one of only 21 successful locations across the UK. The Partnership will use £300,000 of government funding on a two-year pilot project to support one community in each of the seven Norfolk districts, working with householders and local community organisations to explore ways to decarbonise homes and travel to help tackle climate change.
Cllr Michael de Whalley, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Biodiversity at the borough council, explained:
“This project will explore non-technical barriers such as public awareness, technology confidence and how supply chain readiness can be overcome to make a step change in reducing carbon emissions. This will also ultimately help create more green jobs and a shift to net zero.
“The selection of the community for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk will be made by myself as portfolio holder and the borough council’s Chief Executive and Climate Change Manager. Ideally, a community would be of approximately 5,000 people and could therefore be an individual or group of collaborating parish councils.”
Parish councils and ward members are being contacted this week and have until Monday 18 September to respond should they want to be considered. A decision on the final area to become West Norfolk’s Net Zero Community will be made at the end of September.
Working closely with all Norfolk Climate Change Partnership (NCCP) partners the Fast Followers project will focus on low carbon Net Zero adaptations such as retrofitting homes, community energy schemes and greener transport, in the local economy, construction, heating, technology, logistics, land management and tourism industries. This will create a spotlight on climate change with the aim of creating more green jobs and a shift to Net Zero.
The money was awarded to the NCCP following a successful application to the Net Zero Living Fast Followers Programme managed by Innovate UK – the Government’s national innovation agency.
Mike Biddle, executive director, Net Zero, Innovate UK, said:
‘’The winners demonstrate innovative ideas that are designed at grass roots level. Seeing the range of projects is inspiring and, as well as running their individual initiatives, the local authorities will share best practice allowing others to capitalise on proven solutions.’’