Published: Thursday 1 July 2021
Kensington Memorial Park will get an eco-friendly makeover in the first of £10m worth of investment in environmental causes in Kensington and Chelsea.
The Council will invest more than £200,000 to upgrade the energy efficiency and boost the green credentials of changing rooms, public toilets, a depot and create a new changing places facility. Energy will be provided by an air source heat pump, solar panels and a green roof to attract bees. Solar glass will be designed into the new building to make the best use of the sun as an energy source. The Council will soon be engaging with local residents on the project and will co-design the improvements with the local community.
This is one of two projects announced in the first tranche of funding, with a study into the trees around the borough also getting the go ahead. The study will gather data on how trees absorb air pollution and store carbon, informing future planting.
The £10m Green Fund will back projects that promote a green economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, taking action against climate change, improving air quality, boosting nature and getting people out of fuel poverty. The fund will be spent over the next 10 years and is opening for Council projects this year, with plans to open it up to the wider community from 2022.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for planning, place and environment said:
“It’s going to take the efforts of everyone to meet our climate targets – residents, businesses and visitors. We know we must start at home so we’re opening our £10m war chest to fund projects that will futureproof our local environment.
“Buildings are where the majority of our emissions come from, so making our homes, schools, offices and community assets environmentally friendly is a vital step in cutting carbon emissions.”
The improvements of Kensington Memorial Park’s buildings is the second major retrofit announced by the Council, with Lancaster West estate due to get a £20m green makeover to bring down energy bills for residents and cut carbon emissions.
Over the last eight years, council lighting projects in local schools has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 220 tonnes, saving the 20 schools more than £50,000 per year.
New guidelines have been introduced for developers too, who will now need to demonstrate how their plans support the local environment in every planning application in Kensington and Chelsea.
The Council has published its Green Plan, setting out targets and environmental priorities. Council operations will be carbon neutral by 2030, with ambitions for a carbon neutral borough by 2040.