Progress on climate change across Trafford

Progress we have made in implementing the Carbon Neutral Action Plan.

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Governance, engagement and collaboration

Established the Trafford Climate Change Network (previously called the Trafford Climate Emergency & Air Quality Commission). This is a Trafford-wide cross sector partnership charged with responsibility for developing, delivering and monitoring the Carbon Neutral Action Plan.

We have member representation on the Green City Region Partnership Board, supporting Greater Manchester 5 year Environmental Plan.

We held a Citizens Panel on 30 November 2021, involving over 30 voluntary residents selected to match the Borough’s demographic profile. The outcomes were used to develop the Carbon Neutral Action Plan.

We are working with Trafford Community Collective to strengthen the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector, enabling it to fulfil its potential in helping our communities Address the Climate Crisis.

We are running the Carbon Literacy programme in the Council, providing Council staff and Councillors with the information needed to address the Climate Crisis and create individual action plans.

Council reports now include specific considerations of carbon reduction, ensuring this is factored into the decision making process across all services and departments.

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Production and consumption of resources

We are improving household recycling and composting and launching a Food for Thought Campaign helping residents to reduce waste and make savings on household food bills.

Trafford is the first borough in Greater Manchester to install borough-wide “recycling on the go” on-street trio bins allowing recycling of litter in public spaces.

We have included environmental social value weighting in all procurement decisions.

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Transport and travel

We are working with Be.EV, we are installing electric vehicle charge points in our car parks with six locations and 20 chargers in Phase 1 and we are on track to install circa 90 charge points by the end of 2022. We have introduced 16 new electric vehicles to our fleet, cutting carbon and air quality emissions. Trafford has an EV charging hub on the A56 in Stretford, the largest in Greater Manchester. 

We have developed a Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy and are delivering a range of cycling and walking infrastructure. These improvements reduce the need to travel by car and promote active lifestyles.

We have provided Electric Bikes for Adults Health & Social Care staff to enable ultra low carbon journeys where appropriate.

Urmston Active Neighbourhood is improving street lighting, restricting motor vehicles at various locations, creating school streets, maintaining cycle lanes, footpaths and much more.

We have set up six school streets that temporarily close roads outside schools to encourage families to travel actively whilst increasing safety and cutting carbon.

We are key partners within the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan cleaning up the air our residents breathe in a way that helps people to make the change to cleaner vehicles and does not put jobs, livelihoods and businesses at risk.

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Heat and energy

A Local Area Energy Plan has been carried out to define the extent of the transformation needed across Trafford as well as a focus on identifying first steps to progress. It provides a robust evidence base and plan to help engage businesses and citizens in accelerating towards the carbon neutral goal.

We have undertaken a Trafford Park Low Carbon study, creating a roadmap detailing how Trafford Park can transform into a net zero carbon business location and ensuring is continued attraction to jobs, industry and commerce.

Heat Network studies have been undertaken to identify opportunities to distribute low carbon heat across Trafford Park and the Civic Quarter. Further work is being carried out to support the potential commercialisation of such opportunities.

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Natural environment

We are working with The Friends of Longford Park, The Environment Partnership, City of Trees and a range of other partners to develop a vision and masterplan for Longford Park that will guide the restoration and improvement of the park’s key assets and facilities; support our climate emergency response; reconnect people with heritage and nature and secure the park’s long term sustainable management.

Complimenting the Trafford Park Low Carbon work, we have also explored where Green Infrastructure such as trees, edible plants and green roofs can be installed across the Trafford Park to improve air quality, sustainable urban drainage, encourage active travel and create space for recreation. View the Greening Trafford Park Study

We are also working with the Greater Manchester Environment Fund to deliver Greater Manchester’s ambition for a “clean, carbon-neutral, climate resilient city region with a thriving natural environment.

We have eliminated the use of Glyphosate from all but essential uses where alternative options are not possible. We have reduced the frequency of grass verge cuttings and increased the planting of wildflower meadows across borough to enhance biodiversity. In 2020/21 we planted 11,875 trees in partnership with City of Trees.

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Skills and green growth

We are exploring opportunities with Manchester Inward Investment Agency to encourage green growth (for example investment through the Green Growth Grant Scheme and Additional Restriction Scheme) as part of the Inclusive Recovery Plan.

We are actively encouraging sign up to the Growth Hub’s Green Business Pledge. This is free to sign up to, and gives businesses some ideas of actions they can take to reduce their environmental impact and grow their business.

We are using our apprenticeship levy to fund apprenticeships in the green growth sector in Trafford.

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Homes, workplaces and buildings

We are installing a range of low carbon energy improvements (heat pumps, solar panels and ultra-efficient lighting) across public buildings including schools, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 500 tonnes per year. We have secured £4.9m Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant for further work to cut emissions from Altrincham leisure centre.

We are working with GMCA and partners to support our residents in home energy efficiency and cutting carbon. We have set up a Local Energy Advice Programme which is a free energy and money saving advice service to help households save money and to keep homes warm and cosy.

In partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority we have launched the Your Home Better service offering a whole house approach for residents wishing to install measures for a more energy efficient, healthier and comfortable home.

We have enhanced existing planning requirements that will improve sustainability such as electric vehicle charge points and cycle storage on new build homes.

We will develop new low carbon planning policies as part of the emerging Local Plan that will support the Borough’s target of becoming a Net Zero Borough by 2038.

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Monitoring performance

We are monitoring the implementation of our Carbon Neutral Action Plan with key performance indicators embedded with our Corporate Plan.

See Trafford’s Data Lab to view Trafford Borough’s performance against the indicators.

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What others are doing to help

Climate action across Trafford is being driven by the Trafford Climate Change Network. Its members meet every quarter, and their aim is to help in Trafford becoming carbon neutral and climate resilient. They demonstrate  leadership through action, influence others to act and act as a forum for connecting key stakeholders and addressing key challenges.

Action is being taken all across Trafford to reduce our emissions and build our resilience to the impacts of climate change.