Breckland 2035 Sustainability Strategy

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in global temperatures and other characteristics of the atmosphere. Climate has changed throughout Earth's long history, but this time it's different. Human activity is causing worldwide temperatures to rise higher and faster than any time we know of in the past.

What climate change is andfurther information about its impact can be viewed on the GOV.UK website (opens new window).

Breckland District Council declared a climate emergency on 19 September 2019. Since then, the council has committed to reducing the level of greenhouse gases within the district. We are striving to achieve net zero as an organisation by 2035. We have also developed a sustainability strategy focusing on three main themes:

1. Reducing our own impact as an organisation on the environment.
2. Using our regulatory powers to influence behavioural change (including planning, waste and recycling, environmental protection).
3. Enabling our communities to take action for themselves.

Further information

• Breckland Sustainability Strategy 2021-35 (PDF) [203KB] (opens new window)
• Sustainability Programme of Work (PDF) [209KB] (opens new window)

In 2019/2020 the council approved to carry out a baselining exercise to understand its major emission sources. Since then, data has continued to be collected and shared each financial year to monitor and track progress. This latest report and presentation (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window) provides an update on the organisations progress towards achieving a net zero position by 2035.

Resources to support the Sustainability Strategy

We have created the following new work programme by releasing £525,000 of funding to support our strategy:  

• £100,000 to create new tree planting and environmental schemes.
• £60,000 to deliver additional electric vehicle charging points in the district.
• £200,000 to reduce the impact of Council owned builds on the environment. 
• £100,000 to create a grant scheme to support community environmental projects. 
• £10,000 to look at further initiatives to reduce the impact of member/staff travel.
• £5,000 to promote switch and save schemes for residents.
• £50,000 to commission feasibility studies on renewable energy options in Breckland.

Prior to the agreement of our strategy, we have made the following decisions and funding allocations to also support Environmental issues, these include:

• £825,000 to replace all the street lights it owns with LED alternatives which is already reducing energy consumption. 
• £90,000 to fund a new two-year fixed term Environment and Climate Change Officer.
• £10,000 to carry out an initial carbon audit to understand its emissions more fully.
• £10,000 for Elected Member ICT kit to enable paperless meetings.

Climate Change and Environment Officer 

Since January 2021 Breckland Council has committed further to climate emergency by appointing a full-time Climate change and Environment officer to help with the delivery of the sustainability strategy. 

Carbon Literacy training 

At the beginning of May 2021, the council delivered carbon literacy training for elected members to make sure that they fully understand the basis around climate change and the actions required to reach net-zero by 2035. Carbon literacy training sessions for all members of staff also is scheduled to take place in the autumn of 2021. 

Green Community Grants 

Breckland District Council launched itsGreen Community Grants scheme in order to support communities in Breckland to take action for themselves. The aim is to promote environmental sustainability and create positive behavioural change in response to climate change. The fund can also support school projects which encourage pupils to take action for the environment. The fund will award, approximately 80 small grants of £500 and six to 12 large grants of between £5,000 and £10,000.

Applications are now closed.

Tree planting 

The council is currently looking into increase trees and canopy cover across the District. At the moment a number of potential sites are being reviewed. Once sites are identified, Breckland Council will work with the Woodland Trust to identify a strategy for each site including funding options such as the More Trees Fund and the English Woodland Creation Fund. 

Decarbonisation of the council's building 

The carbon audit of the council, which was delivered in December 2020 by a consultancy company called Eunomia outlined the council's emissions are directly linked to our buildings. In order to address this we are commissioning a partner to look into different renewable energy options (such as solar, heat pumps and improved insulation) at our main offices in Dereham and Thetford. The feasibility study will outline which of these energy sources are a viable option and help develop a protect plan with a view to securing external funding to support the delivery of options. 

If you are interested in taking more actions and want to reduce your business and personal carbon footprint, please take a look at the available schemes below:

Money Saving Links

• Renewable Energy Provider (opens new window)
• Saving Water Advice (opens new window)
• Water Fountains (opens new window)

Breckland Council is working in association with Highways England, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, and six local authorities in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex on an initiative to install new charging points along key roads in East Anglia. This will support Government initiatives to increase the number of electric vehicles (EV) and reduce the sale and use of conventional petrol and diesel cars in the UK. 

The rapid chargers can charge two cars at a time and substantially recharge the battery of an EV in just 30 minutes. Customers will be able to pay via contactless debit/credit card or use their existing Swarco E-Connect network account.

We currently have four rapid charging points in the following Breckland car parks:

• Swaffham - Pedlars Car Park Market Place, PE37 7AB
• Attleborough - Queens Square Car Park, Queens Square, NR17 2AE
• Thetford - Pike Lane Car Park, Pike Lane, IP24 2DR
• Dereham - Cowper Road Car Park, Cowper Road, NR19 2DA

You are able toview all car electric charging points in the UK on the Zap-Maps website (opens new window).