Chesterfield Borough Council has published its Climate Change Delivery Plan for 2026 to 2028, outlining the key actions the authority will take over the next two years to cut carbon emissions, support climate resilience, and prepare for the transition to a new unitary council in 2028.
The council is committed to creating a greener Chesterfield and continues to outline how it can reduce the carbon footprint of council buildings as well as work with community organisations to make a cleaner, greener borough.
The delivery plan, which was approved by Cabinet on 17 March, sets out a streamlined programme of activity focused on six priority areas. The council has reviewed the plan due to the forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation to ensure that it can focus its efforts in the right areas to achieve as much as it can over the next two years.
The plan also builds on the council’s commitment, made when it declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, to become a carbon neutral organisation and support the wider borough to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
A number of positive changes have been made over the last two years:
- Allocating more than £170,000 to climate-focused community organisations to make improvements in the community including the installation of solar panels, energy efficiency projects, community gardens, active travel, awareness and education
- New-build council properties across the borough have been designed to achieve an A-rated EPC (energy performance certificate) including the installation of air source heat pumps, which will supply hot water and heat the homes via underfloor heating – without the need for a gas boiler
- The council replaced 34 diesel and petrol vehicles with low emission electric
vehicles, making positive progress towards decarbonising its fleet
- During 2024 to 2025, over 50 homeowners in Chesterfield benefited from energy efficient improvements to their homes which will reduce their utility bills thanks to the council joining forces with Marches Energy Agency, and Eon Energy Solutions to help residents to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient
- Council housing teams have successfully secured further funding through two external grant funding applications working alongside the Midlands Net Zero Hub. The funding will be used to deliver a three-year decarbonisation programme that will see both council homes and private homes benefit from energy efficient improvements
- The council facilitated a decarbonisation grant to businesses by installing solar panels (120 450Wp) on the roof of the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre in December 2024
- Carbon Literacy and Climate Fresk training was delivered to staff across various teams to increase knowledge and understanding around climate change
- The council secured almost £2.4 million from the Public Sector Decarbonation Scheme to commence heat decarbonisation work at the Healthy Living Centre in Staveley
Councillor Martin Stone, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for climate change, planning and the environment, said: “The publishing of this new delivery plan shows both our commitment and ambition to make both our organisation and our communities as environmentally friendly as possible, reducing our carbon emissions and planning for the future.
“The Delivery Plan has been developed through ongoing engagement with council services and wider partners and will focus on the key activities needed to maintain momentum on the council’s climate achievements to date, and I’m happy with our clear objectives over the next two years.”
Chesterfield Borough Council’s six priority areas for action from 2026 to 2028 are:
1. Decarbonise the council's operational assets and improve energy efficiency and energy generation, including improving energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy generation
2. Decarbonise and adapt homes to a changing climate – to improve energy efficiency and resilience
3. Decarbonise and electrify the council's fleet, reducing reliance on fossil fuels
4. Climate friendly land management – for environmental improvement and biodiversity
5. Partnership working and influence working with key stakeholders and community organisations – working together to ensure we are working as efficiently as possible from an environmental point of view
6. Report on climate change activity and progress – ensuring accountability in relation to the delivery plan
Read the Climate Change Delivery Plan 2026 to 2028.
