Climate change plans

Since we declared a climate emergency in 2019, we have been working to improve sustainability.  Read on to find out more about our journey so far. 

Declared climate emergency 

July 2019 
We declared a Climate Emergency and pledged to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

LED lighting in the Civic Centre (council office) 

2019 
LED lighting upgrade project for part of the Civic Centre commenced including installing the suspended ceiling and LED upgrade as part of the Surrey Works Programme. 

Carbon Management and Reduction Plan 2030 published 

September 2020 
Our Carbon Management and Reduction Plan 2030 (PDF) (CMRP) was first published. (The latest version of our CMRP was published in July 2023). We also endorsed the strategic ambitions and priorities of Surrey’s Climate Change Strategy. 

Community environmental improvement planting 

2020
Involving local communities in the planting of new trees and local groups was encouraged to improve their local areas with additional planting.

Grass verges

2021
We trialled a new grass verge management approach on a section of Hampton Court Way between Thames Ditton and Molesey, leaving the grass verges uncut until autumn to create a mini green highway which encouraged new habitats and boosted biodiversity.

Local schools awarded prizes for winning waste reduction scheme competition

November 2021
Greenredeem (part of Rethink Waste) competition was aimed at reducing the amount of waste produced in Elmbridge. Residents singed up and carried out activities to help them reduce waste and win points for doing so. The competition saw schools in Elmbridge compete for points to be donated to them, with Esher Church School and Grovelands Primary School both winning a prize.

Electric vehicle charging points in Elmbridge

August 2022 
Electric vehicle chargepoints (EVCs) installed in the Hollyhedge Road car park in Cobham, the Churchfield Road car park in Weybridge and the Civic Centre car park in Esher. Each car park has 4 EVCs, with each twin charger providing a maximum 22kW to one vehicle, or 11kW to two vehicles when both sockets are in use. 

Increasing biodiversity and woodland regeneration works

November 2022 
Our countryside team cleared 75% of the undergrowth, removed holly and thinned the canopy to let light through from Weybridge Heath, which has allowed native plants to grow, improved public access, increased biodiversity and helped woodland regeneration.

Solar PV installation on council buildings

December 2022 
A key action is to reduce the carbon output from our significant buildings, and as part of our retrofit measures we have installed solar panels on the council owned Xcel Leisure Complex, as well as at our Centres for the Community in Walton, Cobham, Claygate, Hersham and Molesey, as well as Hersham Village Hall. The 973 solar panels at Xcel are estimated to reduce electrical consumption on site and an estimated 75t CO2 saving per year.

Energy efficiency grant for eligible households through partnership with Action Surrey

January 2023 
Our Action Surrey partnership is administering Sustainable Warmth grant funding to help Surrey households save money on energy bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The funding is available to low-income households, with hard-to-heat properties, and those with an Energy Performance Rating of E, F or G are prioritised.

Anti-idling campaign launched

February 2023 
As part of the Sustainable Elmbridge programme, we have launched #IdleFreeElmbridge, a campaign to raise awareness surrounding idling and the potential risks it poses to Elmbridge’s air quality. We are encouraging local businesses, communities, schools and residents to support the campaign and the pledge to keep Elmbridge idle-free. We also delivered a series of presentations to schools on the campaign.

Green Fleet Strategy

February 2023
Our work to become carbon neutral by 2030 and support a sustainable Elmbridge continues with the approval in February of the Green Fleet Strategy 2030 (PDF) and phased vehicle replacement programme setting out our plan to decarbonise the council’s fleet vehicles by 2030.

Advice on open fires and woodburning stoves

February 2023
While open fires and woodburning stoves have risen in popularity, the smoke from burning causes air pollution which can harm your health and those around you. We have shared guidance to improve the quality of the air we breathe, as well as maximising efficiency for those using them. (For example, choose the right appliance; buy ‘Ready to Burn’ fuel; use approved solid fuels; consider burning less; don't burn treated wood or household rubbish; and complete regular maintenance.)

Corporate plan - Elmbridge Vision 2030 launched

March 2023 
We launched our Vision 2030 for Elmbridge, which has sustainability and climate change at its heart - a sustainable, thriving Elmbridge driven by the power of our community.

Elmbridge Eco Hub reducing waste

March 2023 
We support the inspirational Elmbridge Eco Hub and their diverse service offerings, which include a community fridge, repair shop and library of things, helping residents to reduce their food and general waste. 

Supporting local businesses - vegan market

March 2023 
Residents and visitors to Cobham sampled fabulous food, drink, crafts and products at the Cobham Ethical Vegan Market on Saturday 11 March on Hollyhedge Road. It is created by small independent businesses and highlighted the best of vegan street food, artisan bakes, craft vegan cheeses, handmade cosmetics, ethical clothing and jewellery, arts and crafts.

Elmbridge properties achieved MEES compliance

April 2023
We partnered with CSR Sustain to help us meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements (MEES) on 150 properties and support us with MEES compliance, and we have achieved 96% compliance against the April 2023 MEES deadline.

Green Business Boost launch

May 2023 
For our businesses we have introduced a Green Business Boost programme to support them to decarbonise and become more competitive. 

Solar car port installed at Civic Centre car park

June 2023 
We installed a solar panel car port in the Civic Centre pay and display car park, just off Esher High Street. Working alongside Joju Solar, one of the UK’s leading designers and installers of solar panels, the installation commenced in May and the project was completed in June.

Sustainable Elmbridge engagement strategy and action plan

July 2023 
Our existing community groups focused on climate change and sustainable best practices are leading the way on making Elmbridge sustainable. The Sustainable Elmbridge engagement strategy (PDF) and action plan (PDF) set out how we can engage with and support them to achieve the carbon neutral goal and empower individuals to make the essential culture changes.

Biodiversity and ecology work programme

July 2023 
Biodiversity and ecology are important areas which we need to support, protect and enhance to tackle the biodiversity crisis we face. One of the key components of our Elmbridge Vision 2030 is to enhance our natural environment and sustainability, and our biodiversity and ecology work programme (PDF) sets out how we are working to create the best environment for wildlife and biodiversity to thrive.

Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding for sustainability projects

July 2023 
Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding was agreed as part of the strategic priority programme (PDF) for sustainability projects, including the Green Fleet Strategy and countryside improvements. 

Climate change champions launched

September 2023 
We launched our internal climate change champions group, which brings together colleagues from across the organisation to further embed sustainability into our day-to-day operations.

Climate community champions conference held

November 2023 
To deepen our engagement with our climate change and sustainability groups in Elmbridge, we brought them together for our climate community champions conference. We fed back on our current plans and took away feedback, as well as having the groups feed into our engagement action plan and the start of our carbon neutral borough by 2050 plans.

Electric vehicle chargepoints in Elmbridge

November 2023 
Building on our electric vehicle chargepoints (EVC) provision additional EVCs have been installed for our fleet as well as increasing the number of publicly available EVC for residents to charge at the Civic Centre, Community Transport Depot, Drewitts Court Pay and Display Car Park, as well as at the Claygate, Cobham, Hersham, Molesey and Walton Centres for the Community. The installations expand the network of EVCs in Elmbridge which residents can use. 

DM Advice Note 7 - Supporting biodiversity and encouraging nature in development published

August 2023 
Our planning policies require development to preserve, manage and, where possible, enhance biodiversity by conserving existing wildlife habitats, creating new habitats, and providing links to the green infrastructure network. This reflects our duty to have regard to biodiversity conservation when exercising all public functions and to consider how a development might affect protected and priority sites, species, and habitats. To support this a specific Development Management (DM) Advice Note, the DM Advice Note 7 – Supporting biodiversity and encouraging nature in development (PDF) was published to support the supplementary planning documents.

Sustainable Elmbridge hub for residents published

February 2024 
We created a Sustainable Elmbridge hub to give our residents more interactive and accessible information on how they can help improve sustainability in Elmbridge.

Risk register: climate change impacts included

February 2024 
Our Strategic Risk Register (PDF) was approved by Cabinet and Council, and it acknowledges the impact of climate change.

Air pollution monitoring expands

April 2024 
An additional real time monitoring station was installed in Esher High Street, so we now have 3 real time monitoring stations, 2 measuring nitrogen dioxide and 1 measuring particulates. Residents can see current nitrogen dioxide levels at Hampton Court Parade, East Molesey and Weybridge High Street and particulate levels in Esher High Street on UK air quality. We also carry out non automatic monitoring within the district using over 40 passive diffusion tubes to measure nitrogen dioxide.

Sustainable Procurement Policy published

May 2024 
Our sustainable procurement policy (PDF) has been published, which aims to meet the needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money for the council, society and the economy, while minimising damage to the environment.

Solar Together scheme relaunched

July 2024 
We are part of the consortium for the Surrey Solar Together scheme, which has relaunched for another round, giving our residents another way to move forward with their solar panel plans.

Draft Local Plan examination

July 2024 
A sustainable Elmbridge is fundamental to our draft Local Plan which sets out how we can connect communities through active travel methods such as walking and cycling, as well as how we can build more energy efficient homes, which is an element in the creation of the Elmbridge Design Code. Updates on the examination in public process are available to view. 

Electric vehicle chargepoints (EVC) future provision plan

July 2024 
We have set out background and provision priorities for our off-street electric vehicle chargepoints (EVC) in the EBC public EVC provision report (PDF) and the delivery option (PDF) for future EVC provision in our council car parks. 

Elmbridge Community Climate Action Fund (ECCAF) launch

July 2024
We have launched the Elmbridge Community Climate Action Fund (ECCAF) to support community groups and organisations to help deliver carbon reduction projects and initiatives to improve sustainability in Elmbridge. To reach as many eligible applicants for ECCAF as possible, in addition to sending out the details, we have used a comprehensive communications plan (social media, press release, as well as featuring it, as we do with our sustainability news in the Residents Newsletter).

Green Fleet Strategy monitoring

July 2024 
We report quarterly on the number of electric vehicles (EVs) within our fleet as part of the Performance Monitoring report to Cabinet. The most recently published quarterly climate change update (PDF) went to July Cabinet, setting out that at the end of 2023 to 2024 we have 8 electric vehicles in our fleet of 30. The EVs include 3 pool cars for employees to use, which will help to decrease our business travel emissions.

Single Use Plastic Policy launched

July 2024 
Our Single Use Plastic (SUP) Policy was launched, which aims to reduce, and remove where possible, the use of Single Use Plastic from the council’s operations and services.

Air Quality Annual Status Report published

July 2024 
The latest Annual Status Report (PDF) has been published and gives details of our monitoring results for 2023, updates on the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), actions and priorities, including the engagement with schools on anti-idling and air quality as part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) air quality grants for school projects we secured. 

Sustainable Elmbridge engagement Climate Panel

July 2024
We have approved to move forward with holding a climate panel (PDF) to engage with a wider range of residents to help shape the plans for a carbon neutral borough by 2050. We will commence the process for this in the autumn.