Warwick District Council’s Climate and Biodiversity Action Journey 

The timeline below outlines the key climate and biodiversity actions taken by Warwick District Council since declaring a climate emergency in 2019.

2019

• Climate Emergency declared
• First ever Ecofest event at the Pump Room Gardens
• Plastics Policy adopted. 12 single-use plastics eliminated from the organisation. Supported Leamington & Warwick plastic free community.

2020

• Climate Emergency Action Programme published
• Trees for our Future initiative launched with the aim of enabling the planting of 160,000 trees by 2030
• Launch of BetterPoints sustainable travel incentive scheme, which encouraged residents to travel sustainably and earn ‘BetterPoints', which could be exchanged for rewards vouchers
• Eight electric vehicles in place delivering a range of services across the district
• Fuel Poverty Strategy adopted to include low carbon home energy retrofit actions.
• 12 Carbon Connected sessions undertaken on different topics, to raise staff awareness of the climate emergency.

2021

• Climate Change People’s Inquiry undertaken along with a range of partners and residents.
• First Clean Air Day supported with air quality monitoring trial in local schools
• New street cleansing and grounds maintenance contract awarded to idverde with the inclusion of some electric vehicles and equipment
• 60 electric vehicle charging sockets installed in on-street locations in Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, working in partnership with Warwickshire County Council.

2022

• Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator programme funded and undertaken to learn about whole house energy retrofit work, with the result that a new nationally available overheating tool and guidance were created
• 54 affordable and net zero carbon social housing units delivered as part of the Europa Way housing development
• St Mary’s Lands cycle link completed in partnership with Warwickshire County Council
• Carbon Literacy training delivered to over 150 staff and councillors
• Ecological Emergency declared
• New 123 waste collection service introduced, which has increased overall recycling rates in the District.
• As part of the legacy of Warwick District hosting the Bowling and Cycle Road Race events as part of the Commonwealth Games, cycle parking installed in Victoria Park and Chandos Street Car Park in Leamington
• Local Authority Delivery Schemes LAD1B and LAD2 successful bid and delivery of 64 solar PV and 17 ASHPs installed in social properties including insulation measures to save 89 tonnes of carbon per year.

2023

• LED lighting upgrade to St Peter’s Car Park – reducing carbon emissions by approximately 14 tonnes per year.
• Heat decarbonisation plan developed for WDC corporate buildings to help prioritise clean heat actions.
• Feasibility study undertaken to explore future production of green hydrogen locally for vehicle refuelling.
• Local Authority Delivery Schemes LAD3 and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG1) successful bid and delivery of 125 solar PV installs, 10 air source heat pumps, 10 smart heating controls, 9 external wall insulation installs, 46 loft installs, 6 cavity wall installs, 3 underfloor insulation, 4 energy efficient windows and 2 high heat retention storage heaters saving 163 tonnes carbon per year.
• Successful bid into the Local Climate Engagement Programme working with Involve and partners to support local community groups on climate engagement.
• Home Energy Help scheme was trialled and supported 36 residents with an end-to-end retrofit journey.
• Sherbourne Recycling Centre opened in a joint venture with Stratford District Council and other local authorities.
• Climate Change Adaptation Plan published

2024

• Biodiversity Action Programme published
• Over 25,000 trees planted as part of the Trees for our Future initiative
• Low Cost, Low Carbon Energy Strategy adopted
• Grant funding awarded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Specialist designs developed to install Air Source Heat Pumps and low carbon ventilation systems at Temperate House, Jephson Gardens.
• Successful bid to the Sports England Swimming Pool Support Fund, to install renewable technologies at WDC Leisure Centres.
• Successful bid to the Public Sector Decarbonisation 3c bid submitted and successful to decarbonise two public buildings.
• Pay as you save loan agreement secured, in partnership with Heart of England Community Energy: Designs developed for solar installations at 8 WDC public buildings – expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 75 tonnes per year when operational.
• Net Zero Carbon Development Plan Document and Supplementary Plan Document adopted
• Legacy cycle stands from Commonwealth Games installed at Newbold Comyn
• Home Upgrade Grant 2 scheme successful bid and delivery of 48 home energy measures to off gas properties including 24 Solar PV installs, 10 loft insulation, 12 high heat retention storage heaters and 2 cavity wall insulation installs, saving 26 tonnes carbon per year.

2025

• Solar mats installed on the roof of twenty waste collection vehicles with potential to save 26 tonnes of carbon per year across the fleet.
• 180kWp of solar panels installed at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre (funded by Sport England) - expected to save over 30 tonnes of carbon.
• Energy efficiency measures (including double glazing and roof insulation) installed at Jubilee House, alongside rooftop solar PV – expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by 17 tonnes annually.
• New cycle hire scheme and café opens at Newbold Comyn cycle trails
• LED retrofit at the Royal Spa Centre: complete replacement of all existing lighting – saving over 14 tonnes in annual carbon emissions and reducing energy costs by approximately £17,000 (August 2025).
• Roof insulation and solar PV installed at St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre: WDC’s biggest solar installation to date, expected to reduce carbon emissions by 44 tonnes annually (September 2025).
• Fabric improvements, low energy lighting, and rooftop Solar PV installed at Temperate House. Reducing onsite energy use and preparing the building for electrification of heating and full decarbonisation measures in October 2025.
• Thermal imaging cameras provided to nine community groups along with information to support local community loan schemes with positive outcomes achieved so far, including seven positive survey responses.
• One free Air Source Heat Pump installation training course provided to upskill a group of local heating engineers. Training provided by BAXI and funded through WDC by UKSPF.
• Energy Company Obligation (ECO 4) flex scheme launched to support the installation of home energy measures for residents with health conditions, delivery is expected from 2026.
• Complex caseworker offering home energy advice and support provides 100 small energy measure packs to residents with over 70 households supported.