Council continues climate change work with further projects in the pipeline
Climate05 March 2025
Having committed the £1m earmarked to support the council’s ambition to become a carbon neutral council by 2030, projects continue to progress at pace.
In recent weeks, a project to reduce the carbon emissions at Redwell Leisure Centre and a proposal to assess the council’s supply chain emissions have been given the internal go-ahead.
The supply chain assessment will help quantify the council’s wider carbon footprint in relation to emissions from our supply chain, also known as Scope 3 emissions. The analysis will identify key areas for improvement and and how we can actively reduce such emissions.
The works at Redwell Leisure Centre in Wellingborough will see 273 halogen light fittings replaced with LED alternatives, this work will reduce energy consumption and costs to the council.
Other projects that have been delivered include the purchase of 300 battery operated tools for the council’s ground maintenance team and funding to support carbon literacy training for staff, and work to support a Public Sector Decarbonisation bid, which leveraged £3.8m in external funding.
These projects follow on from the recent adoption of the first Climate Change Strategy for North Northamptonshire, in February 2025, which outlines our vision, approach, and key areas of focus to address the effects of climate change locally over the next 5 years. Feedback from stakeholder interviews and the formal public consultation last autumn was used to shape the Strategy.
Now the Strategy has been approved, funds will be committed to help ensure that the development of a roadmap to net zero action plan is delivered at pace.
Alongside the approval of the Strategy, and continuation of internal projects to help reduce the council’s carbon footprint, Glamis Hall was awarded £31,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for local Green Skills training. A variety of courses themed around carbon reduction are now available to book.
Additionally, the council has been awarded £2,895,000 from the Local Vehicle Infrastructure Fund to install a network of charge points across North Northamptonshire - one of the first areas in the country to receive funding. It also received £552,859 from the Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant to upgrade traffic signal systems and replace unreliable and obsolete equipment.
We know that actions speak louder than words and we are determined to show that our climate strategy is more than just a document - it is the green thread that runs through the organisation.Cllr Helen Harrison, the council’s Executive Member for Climate and Green Environment
From our ground maintenance teams using battery powered tools which will not only reduce our carbon emissions, but also improve air quality whilst the equipment is in use through to the delivery of a roadmap of our Net Zero action plan. Across the council, officers are working on a variety of projects which when they all come together will make a significant impact on reducing our carbon footprint.
As a modern council, we’re determined to be innovative whilst ensuring we meet our target of being carbon neutral by 2030.Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council
This is demonstrated by our recent actions, which coupled with money received from external sources will make a massive difference to not just the council but the whole of North Northamptonshire.
View North Northamptonshire Council’s Climate Change Strategy.