Corporate commitments
BHP1 - Thermal energy efficiency
We commit to reduce the size of our corporate estate, improve the thermal energy efficiency of all remaining corporate workspaces and end the use of fossil fuel heating.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to have a Energy Management Portal in place by the end of 2024/25. This will enhance our understanding of our energy consumption.
By 2030 our aspiration is that the City Council estate operates at maximum thermal energy efficiency with all buildings achieving a minimum of Display Energy Certification/Energy Performance Certificate band C.
2024/25
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Conduct a review of EPC ratings for all our libraries and identify actions needed to improve their energy efficiency. | Interim Strategic Director for People |
2024 to 2026
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Conduct a programme of business and operations energy audits to provide a detailed breakdown of energy use by building and use. (currently 75 properties) | Assistant Chief Executive |
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Continue a programme of estate rationalisation based on energy efficiency and sustainability. | Assistant Chief Executive |
| Pursue funding opportunities to implement smart controls for heating across our remaining corporate estate. | Assistant Chief Executive |
| Pursue funding opportunities to deliver fabric-first heat retention measures across our remaining corporate estate. | Assistant Chief Executive |
| Conduct a review of EPC ratings for all our libraries and identify actions needed to improve their energy efficiency. | Interim Strategic Director for People |
2025/26
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Plan to end the use of fossil fuels for heating in the period 2027/2030, through, for example, the installation of heat pumps across the estate or connection to low carbon heat networks. | Assistant Chief Executive |
BHP2 - Efficient use of electricity
We commit to make the most efficient use of electricity across the City Council estate.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to complete an inventory of power-consuming equipment and appliances in the City Council estate with a quantified action plan to reduce use by 2026.
By 2030 our aspiration is a best in class replacement of all power devices across the City Council estates.
2024/25
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Continue project to make further reductions to the carbon impact of our website, whilst maintaining a good level of customer service. | Interim Strategic Director for People |
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Pursue funding opportunities to implement energy saving measures across our remaining corporate estate, such as LED lighting, smart controls, pump and fan replacements. Replace equipment and appliances as part of renewal cycle or where cost savings allow. | Assistant Chief Executive |
BHP3 - Renewable electricity
We commit to shift our electricity consumption to renewable energy.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to produce the equivalent of 70% of our current electricity needs by 2025 using solar energy.
By 2030 our aspiration is to procure all our electricity through renewable sources and optimize the availability of decentralised energy for corporate facilities.
2024/25
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Increase the proportion of renewable electricity we produce through the delivery of a solar farm at Chelson Meadow by 2025. | Strategic Director for Place |
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Maximise the opportunities for installing solar panels on more of our own assets and pursue funding opportunities to do so wherever possible. | Assistant Chief Executive |
2025/26
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Purchase renewable electricity from the proposed Chelson Meadow solar farm for a proportion of our activities, and explore the options to purchase renewable electricity for the remainder. | Assistant Chief Executive |
BHP4 - Highway operations
We commit to reduce the energy consumption needed to operate the public highway.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to achieve a 40% reduction in energy consumption for street lighting by 2026 (based on 2021 energy consumption figures).
By 2030 our aspiration is that the energy consumption for street lighting is reduced to a minimum.
2024/25
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Deliver a rolling programme of maintenance of our street lighting to upgrade to 4th generation LED. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Deliver a rolling programme of replacement of traffic signal heads to more economical alternatives. | Strategic Director for Place |
2024 to 2026
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Implement a new system of improved control and management of street lighting to reduce its emissions only where safe to do so. | Strategic Director for Place |
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Continue the programme of replacement of all illuminated traffic highland bollards to more economical alternatives. | Strategic Director for Place |
BHP5 - Highway maintenance
We commit to reduce emissions from road development and maintenance.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to continue trials of new surfacing techniques to reduce carbon emissions, and seek to introduce new working practices when successful.
By 2030 our aspiration is that the energy and material consumption for road maintenance is reduced to a minimum.
2024/2025
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Continue to work with our supplier to implement a new methodology to account for and reduce emissions from highways maintenance. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Continue to trial more economical road surfacing processes for road maintenance and pothole repairs. | Strategic Director for Place |
BHP6 - Sustainable construction
We commit to strive to implement the highest possible standard of sustainability in the development of new Council construction projects.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to have a policy in place by 2025.
By 2030 our aspiration is that the aspiration for net zero construction has influenced all corporate construction activity through the entire process from procurement and design to delivery and long term management.
2024/25
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Develop a policy to guide how all corporate construction activity (buildings and infrastructure) is commissioned and delivered, including prioritising refurbishment of existing buildings over new build where practicable, as well as aspiring to future net zero development. | Strategic Director for Place |
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Continue to deliver the Eco-homes Programme and then showcase the resulting low carbon housing. | Strategic Director for Place |
Influencing commitments
BHP7 - Low carbon development
We commit to provide a policy framework that supports the decarbonisation of land use and buildings across the city.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to embed the Planning policy framework for Net Zero into the next local plan by 2027.
Citywide aspirations for 2030 can be found on the Climate Connections Plymouth website.
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Ensure that the next iteration of the Joint Local Plan puts at its heart the ambition to become a net zero location that is resilient to climate change, maximising opportunities within the context of any revised National Planning Policy Framework and planning reforms. | Strategic Director for Place |
BHP8 - Commercial estate
We commit to facilitate a reduction in emissions from our commercial estate.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to make significant progress towards ensuring that all the City Council commercial properties have an Energy Performance Certificate of C or above by 2026, in support of national target to achieve this outcome by April 2027.
Citywide aspirations for 2030 can be found on the Climate Connections Plymouth website.
2024 to 2026
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Work positively with our commercial tenants to support and where possible facilitate improvements to energy efficiency of buildings, including signposting them to any grant funding opportunities. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Collate a review of Energy Performance Certificates across the estate. Commission feasibility work to reach a minimum C rating by 2027 and exploring funding opportunities for required works. | Strategic Director for Place |
BHP9 - Energy efficiency support for households
We commit to continue to deliver schemes that support households in achieving greater energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, ensuring that poorer communities are not left behind.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is to have 1293 households supported by 2026.
Citywide aspirations for 2030 can be found on the Climate Connections Plymouth website.
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Develop and deliver programmes to improve energy efficiency of fuel poor homes and to support the increase of retrofit measures across all the city's housing stock, in partnership with the Plymouth Energy Community and other partners. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Work with specialist Disabled Facilities Grant contractors to reduce the carbon impact of adaptations. | Interim Strategic Director for People |
| Build a greater understanding of the condition of the city’s housing stock and its energy performance, so that targeted interventions can be identified and coordinated. | Interim Strategic Director for People |
BHP10 - Low carbon energy infrastructure development
We commit to support the development of a low carbon energy generation and distribution infrastructure that will meet our future energy needs.
Our goal for 2024 to 2027 is for 7,500 MWh/a of heat supplied by new low carbon heat networks in Plymouth by the end of 2025/26.
2024/25
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Using UK Shared Prosperity funding, create electricity access points for ice cream vans on the Hoe, to remove the need for diesel generators. | Strategic Director for Place |
2024 to 2027
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Work with National Grid on increasing the capacity of the energy grid to shift to an economy that will be more reliant on electricity generation. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Develop a strategic heat network delivery programme for the city, including the city centre/waterfront and Derriford areas, including the procurement of a delivery partner, aided through participation in the Government's Advanced Zoning Programme. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Deliver heat network clusters at the Guildhall and Civic Centre, supplying the Theatre Royal, Combined Courts and Civic Centre Redevelopment with low carbon heat. | Strategic Director for Place |
| Work with our partners in the Devon Climate Emergency to develop a Local Area Energy Plan. | Strategic Director for Place |
2026/27
| Action | Owner |
|---|---|
| Support the delivery of a 10MW Green Hydrogen Generation plant at Langage. | Strategic Director for Place |