- Support an increase in renewable energy generation within the borough.
- Help to make local grid infrastructure fit for the future.
- Encourage a reduction in emissions from domestic and commercial buildings.
- Make sure new buildings meet high energy efficiency and emissions standards.
- Promote use of sustainable materials and construction methods for new buildings.
Aim 2: Support the reduction of net borough emissions to zero - as close to 2030 as possible
Buildings and energy supply
Things the council has already done:
- launched the Solar Together joint procurement scheme for solar panels, which helped 135 households install panels in its first year of operation
- introduced a new Local Plan, which sets the rules by which planning applications are judged in the borough, with a new climate change policy
- directly funded or delivered government funding for improvements to homes through schemes such as Warm, Safe and Well (15 homes upgraded in financial year 2023 to 2024)
Key objectives
Priority actions
B1. Investigate local renewable energy schemes to invest in.
B2. Investigate developing a Local Area Energy Plan, to identify infrastructure upgrades needed.
B3. Facilitate private sector investment in opportunities like renewable energy and retrofit and explore innovative funding models and joint procurement schemes.
B4. Deliver direct grant support for those who are unable to afford upgrades themselves and for who alternative funding models aren’t suitable.
B5. Develop an advice service, or free or subsidised energy audits, to help residents, businesses and other organisations identify ways to save energy and reduce emissions.
B6. Work to improve the standard of new development in the borough through planning policies and by applying high standards in all construction the council is involved in (including in relation to embodied emissions) and explore options for construction waste recycling.
B7. Investigate opportunities for district heating in the borough, particularly around the centre of Bracknell and the business areas and for reusing waste heat.
Embedding the principles
Just transition
Upfront costs of investments in energy activities and improvements will be a barrier for many people with limited financial means, so specific, targeted support and innovative funding models will be needed to make sure they can be included.
Those in rental accommodation will not have direct control over changes to their homes, so engagement with landlords will also be needed.
Co-benefits
These activities will also support:
- financial resilience - by reducing residents’ energy bills
- economy and employment - by providing good, secure jobs in renewable energy and retrofit
- air quality - by reducing numbers of fuel-burning appliances like gas boilers
- biodiversity - by making sure that development schemes implement Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) principles wherever possible
Monitoring
We will monitor:
- territorial emissions linked to building energy use
- the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of buildings in the borough
- total generation capacity of large-scale renewable energy installations
- indicators in the Annual Monitoring Report for the Bracknell Forest Local Plan for policies:
- LP27 (Climate change)
- LP33 (Flood risk)
- LP55 (Sustainable construction)
- LP56 (Renewable and low carbon energy)
- LP57 (Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS))
- any future metrics identified on embodied emissions
Transport
Things the council has already done:
- launched the Eco Rewards scheme to give people an incentive to walk and cycle, which has seen over 500,000 miles of sustainable travel logged
- supported buses through the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), including more frequent services to Heatherwood Hospital and Sunday services to the town centre
- provided Bikeability cycling training to over 8,000 school pupils since 2011
- installed almost 50 fast and rapid EV charge points across council car parks
Key objectives
- Make sure residents are able to access the services they need in their local area.
- Support an increase in the use of public transport and active travel.
- Investigate better management of freight vehicle movements on Bracknell Forest’s road network.
- Enable a transition to low or zero emissions vehicles in the borough
Priority actions
C1. Improve local infrastructure as well as personal and road safety in the borough to enable more residents to walk and cycle.
C2. Work with public transport providers to explore service improvements, new delivery models such as demand-responsive transport (DRT) and electrification opportunities.
C3. Support the roll-out of EV charging across the borough.
C4. Investigate innovative models to help residents access EVs, such as car clubs.
C5. Investigate actions to incentivise public transport and active travel, such as pedestrianisation, school streets or neighbourhood traffic calming schemes.
C6. Support local businesses and organisations to reduce emissions from their vehicles, develop shared logistics arrangements or hubs and install more delivery lockers.
Embedding the principles
Just transition
Upfront costs of electric vehicles and lack of access to off-street parking where residents can charge from home will be a barrier to EV uptake for many people with limited financial means. They may require further support and their needs must be considered when developing charging infrastructure.
Changes to travel arrangements and networks will need to be tailored to avoid negative impacts on people with disabilities, or on specific local areas (for example, changes in car routes moving air pollution to areas facing deprivation).
Co-benefits
These activities will also support:
- reduced congestion - by improving alternatives to driving so that traffic on local roads falls
- residents’ health - by increasing active travel such as walking and cycling
- air quality - by reducing vehicles on local roads and raising the proportion of EVs
Monitoring
We will monitor:
- territorial emissions linked to transport
- levels of traffic in the borough
- data on use of buses, railways and active travel in the borough
- numbers of electric vehicles owned by residents and EV chargepoints in the borough
- average distances from homes to key services
- air quality monitoring data
- registered taxi licenses which are for EVs or lower emissions vehicles
Land and waste
Things the council has already done:
- planted thousands of trees across the borough
- rolled out food waste collections to all houses and many flats across the borough, dramatically reducing emissions from waste
- implemented the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement for new development, which requires a net gain in biodiversity of at least 10% (preferably onsite)
Key objectives
- Plant trees, green the borough and encourage others to do likewise, prioritising native species and habitat connectivity.
- Drive a reduction in waste generated locally.
- Increase recycling and composting rates so that less waste goes into general waste.
- Reduce emissions from waste disposal, including by reducing landfill rates.
Priority actions
D1. Establish funding and support for tree-planting on council and private land.
D2. Support development of varied, healthy local habitats and green corridors to boost biodiversity.
D3. Reduce biodegradable waste to landfill, with the aim of eliminating it.
D4. Expand the range of materials residents can recycle, especially at kerbside.
Embedding the principles
Just transition
Greening activities offer opportunities for making sure there is equitable access to green space across the borough.
Co-benefits
These activities will also support:
- reduced waste - by increasing levels of recycling and composting
- biodiversity - by increasing tree planting and creating new woodland
- health - by improving provision of attractive local green space
Monitoring
We will monitor:
- territorial emissions linked to land use and waste
- waste disposal statistics for residential waste, including the total amount of waste, the recycling percentage and the breakdown of disposal methods
- trees planted and supported to independence in the borough
- Biodiversity Action Plan indicators on habitat condition and enhancement