West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA): Net Zero Neighbourhoods

• Location: West Midlands

• Purpose: To reduce fuel poverty and tackle climate change, the WMCA and Energy Capital have set up the net zero neighbourhoods programme. The neighbourhoods are meant to act as ‘demonstrators’ to both the wider community and the private sector about the opportunities from retrofitting. This is in the hope that it will increase the pace and scale of retrofitting in the region by giving companies the confidence to train employees, creating well paid, high value jobs and demonstrating the demand for insulation and clean heat.

• Description: The homes in the chosen neighbourhoods will undergo a ‘deep retrofit’ which will include insulation, clean heating systems, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. The programme is also looking to install other measures such as LED street lighting, new pocket parks, communal food growing initiatives, green roofs, and sustainable drainage systems. Ultimately, this will create a delivery and finance model that is scalable across the West Midlands.

• Funding: £2 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority, with the goal to secure major private sector partners for each pilot neighbourhood.

• Conservative councillor/ council lead: Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street and Energy Capital Team

• Further links: West Midlands Combined Authority announcement, Carbon Copy: Net Zero Neighbourhoods webpage and Energy Capital: Net Zero Neighbourhood Demonstrator webpage