"What MSDC will do:

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Utilise Green Home Grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of the most inefficient homes in the District. We will utilise Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data to proactively engage with the lowest “F” and “G” EPC rated homes to maximise the reduction of carbon emissions."

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The Coalition comment: Weren't the Green Home Grants scrapped in 2021 and have yet to be replaced? They provided up to £5k of home improvements but left the owner with a third of the bill, unless you were in receipt of income or disability benefits. 

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"Secure funding for home energy efficiency improvements through available Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery schemes. We will actively participate in those schemes to maximise the uptake of the district’s residents."

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The Coalition comment: the Local Authority Delivery Scheme has been around since 2020. We can't find any record of Mid Sussex receiving any of the central £300m allocation. Not sure if MSDC have not bid for it or have just been unsuccessful. 

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"Identify a residential construction and refurbishment sustainability rating standard and provide a policy framework in the updated District Plan to meet this need."

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The Coalition comment: We need to do some more research on the District plan!

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"Identify a non-residential construction and refurbishment sustainability rating standard and provide a policy framework in the updated District Plan to meet this need."

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The Coalition comment: again, we need to get to grips with the District plan!

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"Partner with businesses and 3rd Sector organisations in the district to help them create their own net-zero carbon programme."

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The coalition comment: fair enough. Looking forward to seeing how this works out. 

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"Use the Ricardo analysis to create a Mid Sussex Net-Zero Carbon Programme."

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The Coalition comment: Ricardo have already produced reports for a string of councils across the country. The extract below is from a  report for Sheffield City Council.

 

"This report has highlighted that the current policy landscape is not sufficient to meet net zero by 2030, or even to continue this level of emissions reductions into the future. This reflects the picture at the national level, where the current policy landscape is not sufficient to meet the fourth and fifth carbon budgets, nor net zero by 2050....Much of the progress in reducing CO2 emissions in recent years has been from grid decarbonisation, which has progressed at a rapid pace. The additional gains from this are lower than previously anticipated, and more focus will need to be turned to tricky areas such as decarbonisation of heat and transport....Whilst expected forthcoming policy announcements from the UK Government will have an impact and help in reducing emissions, it will still not be enough to ensure that Sheffield reaches net zero within a suitable time frame.

The next steps of this project will be WP3, where we will consider mitigation options to provide guidance to Sheffield City Council on how to reach net zero emissions and close the current gap that exists in doing so."  

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So looks like our Ricardo report could also just pin everything on central government and give local councils an excuse for business as usual.

The Greater London Net Zero Plan talks about aviation which is missing from the Sheffield report. It does remind you what a massive job it is to turn emissions around. Better get started!

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"Use the Ricardo Action Plan to identify the investment, job creation and green economy potential for Mid Sussex of achieving carbon net-zero."

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The Coalition comment: this is the good stuff. With so much to do, there are a whole stream of opportunities. 

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Oct 22: The first part of Ricardo's report is now released. It's subtitled 'Feasibility and options' and, now approved (at a scrutiny meeting on the 6th Oct), will be followed by another report that sets out how this can be implemented. This second stage is due in November 2022.