Published on 25th July 2024

aerial photo of a house with solar panels and other 'future fit' items.

Almost £90k of UK Shared Prosperity Funding has been allocated to eight council-led projects which tackle the climate emergency.

This is the third year of funding the council has received from the UKSPF and this year it has been allocated around several key areas. These include domestic energy reduction, local business support, education projects and adaptation projects for the town.

Cllr Iain Dobie, cabinet member for climate emergency said: “This vital UKSPF funding offers Cheltenham the chance to address climate mitigation, adaption and learning in the borough.

“The strong environmental focus also supports our business sector, homeowners, and the green economy, further helping to promote Cheltenham as a place to live, work, visit and invest – and importantly helping the council work towards its 2030 net zero ambitions.’’

The funding has been allocated into different areas:

Project

Cost

Notes

Retrofit engagement officer role

£25,000

Match funding to support the fixed term (12 months) employment of a retrofit engagement officer for Cheltenham

Retrofit supply chain engagement / market stimulation work

£20,000

A research and engagement piece of work to better understand the existing retrofit sector and supply chain capacity in the Cheltenham area, creating a database of providers and contractors and offering training and skills develop opportunities.

Home energy assessments

£5,000

Supporting Cheltenham’s Future Fit Homes project – this funding will support homeowners in accessing full funded home energy surveys, and retrofit action plans, for their properties.

Home energy improvement grants

£10,000

Supporting Cheltenham’s Future Fit Homes project – Offering homeowners a grant of up to £1,000 towards retrofitting their properties.

Annual software license

£2,394

Software license to support a Climate Risk and Vulnerability mapping project

Zellar licenses

£9,000

Free software licenses for Cheltenham businesses to utilise an online platform which supports them in embedding sustainability into their organisations.

School Changemaker Grants

£6,000

A grant pot to support Cheltenham secondary schools to partake in the Sept 2024-July 2025 sustainability engagement program with the Cheltenham Education Partnership

Contribution to design code work

£10,550

If this cannot be progressed due to resource constraints, to be used for the Tree Strategy 

Total cost

£87,944

Budget (£87,973)

Domestic energy use - such as cooking, heating and powering devices and appliances - is the largest source of emissions in the borough. The funding will allow the council to develop a rounded approach to helping reduce these emissions by offering retrofit grants and funded home energy surveys. Benefits will include homes being warmer and cheaper to run.  

The funding will also support: secondary school children in working on and delivering sustainable action projects in their schools; a study to look at the climate risk of the town to  inform the council on how Cheltenham can adapt to future climate change; and support to businesses via licenses to Zellar, enabling businesses to measure their specific carbon output and make sustainable changes.

In 2019, Cheltenham Borough Council declared a climate emergency and a commitment to becoming a net zero council and borough by 2030. The net zero goal will be met by delivering activity which supports and promotes the town’s core vision to be a place where everyone thrives.

For further information for residents and business owners, please contact the council’s climate team: [email protected].

For press enquiries contact: communications 01242 264231 or email [email protected].

Notes:

  • The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
  • Future Fit Homes - Homeowners are encouraged to apply now to Future Fit Homes to access trusted, independent experts, and learn from other homeowners in Cheltenham who have future-proofed their homes with improvements such as solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and more. Successful applicants will be signposted to grants and support, get exclusive access to talks and events and will be guided in what they can do to improve their properties.
  • See further information on the council’s climate action plan.