£300,000 put towards net zero pilot project in Norfolk
It will have a specific focus on low carbon adaptations such as retrofitting homes, community energy schemes and greener transport
Last updated 22nd Aug 2023
£300,000 worth of funding is going towards a new two-year 'Net Zero Living' pilot project in Norfolk.
The money, from the government, has been secured by the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership (NCCP), whilst the project will be led by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
The funding will be used 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 across Norfolk.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council will be the lead authority to deliver the project, and will work with all NCCP partner agencies across Norfolk, which including Breckland Council, Broadland Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council, Norfolk County Council, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council, South Norfolk Council, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, the East of England LGA, the Broads Authority and the University of East Anglia through The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
The money was awarded to the Partnership following a successful application to the Net Zero Living Fast Followers Programme managed by Innovate UK - the Government's national innovation agency. This is a £6m pot of funding made available to local authorities to help build skills and accelerate progress towards Net Zero.
The two-year project will see the Partnership work with residents and businesses and set-up a programme aimed at testing how barriers can be overcome in order to make a step change in reducing emissions.
Consumer awareness, behaviour change, policies, financial drivers and digital tools will all be made available to support households and help business to respond to demand.
The project will have a specific 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.
In turn, it's hoped this will create a spotlight on climate change with the aim of creating more green jobs and a shift to Net Zero.
Paula Boyce, Great Yarmouth Borough Council executive director who led the successful bid, said: ''Pockets of good practice exist where people do their own research, have the financial means to invest and navigate myriad barriers, but this is not the norm. In Norfolk, there are many households that simply do not know where to start or, if they do, can't afford the investment.
''Our Fast Followers programme will be delivered in selected areas in each of the county's seven district, city and borough councils and will provide people with the necessary information to take transformational steps to modify behaviour in favour of Net Zero, empowering them to make positive choices with climate change in mind.
''It will also support Norfolk business so it can benefit from clean growth by creating new jobs and access to those with relevant skills to help us grasp the opportunities of a green economy.''
Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, and member of the Partnership, said: ''This grant award is excellent news. Norfolk's aspiration is for an integrated growth and regeneration framework that decouples growth from environmental harm. And this pilot programme will help us accelerate that work and make significant changes.
''The low carbon and environmental goods and services sector has a vital role to play in our evolving economy, the livelihoods of our residents and the national ambition to achieve Net Zero carbon.
''Norfolk's geography makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and this will help NCCP address and take on some of the challenges we face.''