Funding for housing retrofit to support the Council’s vision and ambitions in the housing section of the borough's Climate Emergency Response Plan is a significant challenge. The Council has been successful in applying for various rounds of national funding for housing retrofit in the borough, helping to support our decarbonisation ambitions and improving the energy efficiency of homes for our residents.

In 2022, the Council and Sanctuary Housing received a grant of £596,000 from DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) to carry out retrofit improvements to housing stock in Blacon, Chester. Working in partnership (with additional funding from Sanctuary) the scheme delivered retrofit improvements to 123 homes in Blacon with various energy saving measures incorporated. The improvements made to the homes included the installation of Solar PV systems, air source heat pumps and external wall insulation.

The scheme was praised by DESNZ for the way that the partners worked with the community to encourage and support residents to have retrofit measures in their homes. Residents attended community sessions held by the contractors managing the works and additional quality assurance checks on site gave them confidence in the works. The contractors tried to be as quick and efficient as possible in the homes and received praise from residents for their quick response and professional attitude.

Schools across west Cheshire are making the most of free Bikeability training to ensure their pupils have the skills to get on their bikes and cycle to and from school.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Road Safety team works closely with Bike Right to ensure everyone has the training they need to take to pedal power.

Schools in the borough can request free Bikeability training to levels 1, 2 and 3 as well as Bikeability Plus Balance and Learn to Ride. To enquire about or book training in your school, please contact Bike Right.

Pupils at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School completed their Bikeability training in September 2025. This video explains what is covered in the training.

Adult and Family Training

If you live, work or study in Cheshire West and Chester, and are aged 18 or over, Adult Cycling Training is available. You can get tailored training at a level suited to your needs, all based on the National Cycle Training Standards and split into easy to understand modules.

Family Cycle Skills is a free, fun training package to help people cycle together. The training will enable families to plan enjoyable group rides, switch from driving to cycling the school run, help other family members to develop their cycling skills and grow their confidence.

Sessions can be up to six people and there needs to be at least one child and one adult on each session. For more details and to book a place visit Family Cycle Skills (bikeright.co.uk).

The Council is supportive of local reuse initiatives, which play a key part in helping to deliver on the aims of our ten year waste strategy and our Climate Emergency Response Plan.

Repair cafés are one of the local community initiatives that are playing their part to create a circular economy, repairing items to keep them in use for longer, rather than discarding them.

Their popularity has grown in recent years, with more TV programmes showing ways people can repair much loved items for them to continue to use and treasure.

By encouraging residents to extend the life of their possessions, repair cafés reduce the demand for new products and minimises environmental impact.

There are now several repair cafés hosted on a regular basis across the borough. These include:

• Tattenhall Repair Café
• Chester Repair Café
• Helsby Repair Café

They are all run by groups of volunteers and can often help repair a wide range of items from bikes, clothing and wooden items to kitchen appliances, mobile phones and laptops.

The social side of the repair cafés also plays an important role in the circular economy model, providing a place for knowledge sharing and collaboration, and a space for the community to come together to play their part to create greener, thriving neighbourhoods.

Two of the local repair cafés have been able to get up and running thanks to funding through the Cheshire West Crowd, a platform that helps community groups and local organisations to create, fund and deliver their project ideas, with funding from the Council contributing to their success.

Watch the video below about the Tattenhall Repair Café.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s transport team are delivering School Streets in the borough as part of our plans to improve road safety, encourage walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting to and from school and improve the air quality and environment outside schools.

School Streets is an initiative whereby the street or streets immediately outside the school entrance are closed to non-essential motorised vehicles at school opening and closing times.

Only people walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting are permitted access to the School Street zone while the restriction is in place, with exemptions given to emergency vehicles and Blue Badge holders. Permits will be given to residents living and businesses working within the zone.

Reducing the use of private car journeys to and from school should lead to:

• Less road danger from traffic
• Less anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous driving
• More children walking, cycling, and scooting to school
• Reduced congestion and local pollution from idling vehicles.

Two schools in the borough, Our Lady’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School and Woodlands Primary School in Ellesmere Port have been taking part in a pilot School Streets project, which launched in 2023.

The Street Steward at Our Lady’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School feedback on how the scheme had been going after a few weeks of it being in place: “The scheme has worked brilliantly. We have had no parents park on Windsor Drive - with the exception of one car with a blue badge. The residents I have spoken to are very happy. The parents and children are over the moon. I have heard 'I want to walk/skate/scoot ' numerous times and everyone is so much happier.”

Some of the responses received through a survey shared with families and local residents in the areas of the School Streets Pilot project, include:

“Best thing that has ever happened in the 30 years I've lived here. I've tried on numerous occasions to get something sorted as it was always an accident waiting to happen. I am very impressed with the system that has been put in place. Thank you.”

“Keeping the school street closed is a great idea, I now feel it is safe for my daughter to come out of school and cross the road easily.”

The Council is aiming to start another three School Streets during 2025-26. Consultation with schools is underway and public consultation with residents and parents at Guilden Sutton Primary School started in October 2025.

Find out more about School Streets

Background

International Pheromone Systems (IPS), based in Neston, is a leading provider of sustainable pest management solutions, specialising in pheromone-based insect monitoring and control. The company operates from a facility that supports both research and manufacturing activities, requiring a stable and energy-efficient infrastructure. IPS is committed to reducing its environmental impact and operational costs by investing in renewable energy solutions. IPS sought opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions as part of its sustainability strategy. With rising energy costs and an ambition to transition towards Net Zero, the company explored solar PV as a viable solution.

Support provided

Groundwork, a charity that support local communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience, helped IPS to identify the potential benefits a solar PV system could bring to their organisation and guided them through the investment process. This support included:

• Conducting an energy assessment to analyse current electricity consumption.
• Evaluating the feasibility and financial implications of installing a solar PV system.
• Calculating projected cost savings and carbon reductions.
• Assisting with the grant application process and business case development.

The company were successful in securing £20k through the Council’s Climate Emergency Fund Decarbonisation Grant, with match funding provided by IPS.

Outcomes

With the support provided, IPS successfully installed a 93 kWp solar PV system on their roof, providing significant cost and carbon savings.

• £12,170 in annual cost savings
• 11.4 tonnes of CO2e emissions reduced per year
• Identified additional opportunities for emissions reduction.

A spokesperson from IPS said: “The support has been pivotal in enabling IPS to take the first big step towards achieving Net Zero. The costs for a business to install a solar PV array can be quite daunting but with the assistance in identifying a great supplier and enabling grant funding for the project plus making the whole process as easy as it could be, we have finally been able to achieve it.”

Overview

West Cheshire is emerging as a vibrant hub for community-led energy generation. These are energy projects that are initiated, owned, and managed by local communities rather than large corporations or government bodies.

Chester Community Energy, Neston Community Energy, and Bretton Hall Solar Farm, demonstrate how community leadership and technical ambition can drive meaningful climate action at a variety of scales.

• Chester Community Energy Ltd. (CCE) is a volunteer-run Community Benefit Society that installs solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on public and community buildings. With over 160 kWp of solar PV installed across nine sites, CCE reinvests surplus income into local sustainability projects and energy education.
• Neston Community Energy Ltd. (NCE) is a newer group focused on developing local electricity generation in the CH64 area. It has undertaken a feasibility study for solar deployment at the Clayhill Landfill Site, which if developed, could demonstrate how brownfield land can be repurposed for clean energy generation.
• Bretton Hall Solar Farm, led by YnNi Newydd, is set to become the UK’s largest community-owned solar farm. Located on the Cheshire-Flintshire border, the site covers 49 hectares of land currently used for sheep grazing, which will continue after construction. The site will retain its important role and capacity in alleviating flood risk in the local area whilst increasing biodiversity, with improved soil structure and management of natural resources and wildlife. The solar farm will generate up to 30 MW of electricity generating c.35million kWhs per year, enough to power 8,000 homes while enhancing biodiversity and offering community share ownership.

Together, these projects span the full spectrum of community energy: from rooftop solar on schools and churches to large-scale solar infrastructure with national significance.

Impacts

Economic:

• Over £150,000 raised through community share offers by Chester Community Energy.
• Bretton Hall Solar Farm represents a £20 million investment with long-term revenue for local reinvestment.
• Host organisations benefit from reduced energy bills and improved financial resilience.

Social:

• 91 members and five volunteer Directors at Chester Community Energy; growing participation in Neston Community Energy’s open meetings.
• Bretton Solar farm will generate employment and training and opportunities for local companies for the work to build and maintain the solar farm.
• Bretton Solar farm will be owned by its membership, the construction finance will be raised and offer shares in the society to local investors and organisations. The development will then be owned by its members on a one member-one-vote basis. After a few years, the project will begin to generate a surplus. 100% of the profits generated will be distributed via a community benefit fund to other projects providing sustainable community benefits.
• Chester Community Energy engage with the local community through educational outreach activities including live solar monitoring tools, school engagement, and public consultations.

Environmental:

• Chester Community Energy have installed over 163 kWp of rooftop solar installed across Chester, saving 30+ tonnes of CO₂ annually.
• Bretton Hall Solar Farm will generate 30 MW of clean electricity, displacing 6800 tonnes of CO₂ every year during the 40-year lifetime.
• Biodiversity enhancements include wildflower meadows, hedgerow restoration, and ecological stewardship on solar farmland.

A new report today says Cheshire and Warrington is taking a leading role in the green revolution set to unlock a multi-billion-pound investment stream and thousands of new jobs alongside a major reduction in the region’s carbon footprint.

The North West Net Zero Hub’s newly released North West Clean Power Plan projects a rapid expansion in the clean energy workforce, with Cheshire and Warrington among areas to benefit from up to “35,000 new roles across the North West by 2028”.

The report also forecasts “billions of pounds of investment flowing into the region in the next few years” as a result of national energy policy.

Today Cheshire and Warrington leaders said the report findings would complement collective efforts to make the region “the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK”.

The report states Cheshire and other parts of the North West are set to be “global leaders in clean energy innovation and industrial decarbonisation, attracting new businesses and developments to supercharge the region’s economic growth.”

Cheshire and Warrington is at the forefront of this, with the Prime Minister visiting Cheshire in February to announce £11 billion of funding for the Hynet Hydrogen production and carbon dioxide capture programme centered on the Origin Cluster in Ellesmere Port, creating 6,000 new jobs, removing millions of tonnes of carbon emissions each year, and triggering an expected £5bn in private investment within the next five years.

Included within the programme is the UK’s first large-scale blue Hydrogen production plant at Essar Energy Transition, Stanlow, and a joint venture between Encirc and drinks company Diageo to build the world’s first at scale Hydrogen fueled glass furnace that will produce 200 million Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Gordon’s, and Tanqueray bottles a year by 2030.

Today’s report also finds that local government can enable 1 GW of locally-owned renewables by 2030 – enough energy to power around 750,000 homes and states by working the North West can deliver economic security, increased business growth, and enhanced health outcomes for everyone in the region.

Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington Chief Executive, Philip Cox, said: “Cheshire and Warrington leaders alongside our trailblazing businesses are proudly leading the industrial decarbonation conversation. The report’s forecasts bring much optimism as we bring world leading opportunities to Cheshire and Warrington and establish its reputation as the key growth region for clean energy.”

Jane Gaston, Net Zero North West CEO said: “We are delighted to see the launch of the North West Clean Power Report. As well as highlighting the significant investment in jobs and industry for our region, it outlines the vital role industry and private sector partners play when it comes to driving clean energy production at scale.

“Here in the North West, we are leaders in the UK’s clean energy transition. We must keep up this brilliant momentum and continue to collaborate to reap further benefits for our region.”

Juergen Maier, Chair of publicly owned energy company Great British Energy which is backing the report said: “The move to renewable power in the UK represents the biggest economic opportunity in a generation. This report highlights the significance of what is underway right now.

“Regions like the North West are seizing this opportunity and demonstrating the very real benefits. Great British Energy fully supports this report in helping multiple regions to create new jobs, stimulate British innovation and manufacturing, and above all deliver secure, cheap, renewable energy for millions of homes and businesses.”

Local projects are live and fundraising on Cheshire West Crowd. It’s not too late to get involved if you have a project that tackles the climate emergency by delivering quantifiable carbon benefits. Some potential projects examples could include:

• Renewable energy projects
• Energy efficiency projects
• Heat pump projects.

Cheshire West and Chester Council launched the latest funding round on the Cheshire West Crowd in March, the sixth round since 2021. In that time 192 projects have successfully raised almost £2.8 million, calling on the support of almost 10,300 backers.

Run by the Council in partnership with Spacehive, the Cheshire West Crowd platform enables community-led projects to bring ideas to life, making the borough more vibrant, resilient and connected.

The Climate Change emergency fund, worth £80,000, with pledges to individual projects likely to be in the region of £5,000 to £10,000, is looking to provide capital investment to tackle the climate change emergency. View the fund criteria here -https://www.spacehive.com/movement/cwc/supporters

Project creators pitching for Climate Change funding are encouraged to access free professional advice prior to submitting their project on the Cheshire West Crowd platform. Time is tight but it is still possible to access this exciting fundraising platform. Please email your draft project idea asap to:
ClimateChange3@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk ASAP to improve the likelihood of receiving the Council’s support through this fund. The deadline to then create your project, pass verification and launch your crowdfunding campaign is Friday, 26 September.

Some of the previous climate change-related projects that have successfully received funding include:

Solar Panels for Tarporley Chapel

Scout & Community Centre - Solar Project

Reduce energy use at Chester Baths

1st Saltney Scout Hut Improvements

Solar panels at Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham – YouTube video

The Council’s Climate Change team has developed a guide for teachers and school staff to help them to put in place a climate action plan for their school.
This will help to fulfil the requirement set by the DFE’s sustainability and climate change strategy for education that requires all education settings to nominate a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan.

Many schools in the borough are already taking lots of actions to become more sustainable. Creating a climate action plan will help to set out the steps each school is taking to meet climate targets, providing an opportunity for students and staff to understand more about the topic and opportunities around green skills. It could also help schools to reduce energy bills and be more prepared to deal with the negative effects of climate change, such as overheating.

The step-by-step guide and a climate action plan template is available to access on the Council’s Participate Now Site.

Schools are also encouraged to share stories of what they are already doing on sustainability and climate change to inspire others on the Council’s Climate Emergency Inspire Hub.

Residents are being encouraged by Cheshire West and Chester Council to build upon the Borough’s excellent recycling rates by supporting communities to ‘recycle right’.

The Borough has one of the highest recycling rates in the country at over 59% of all waste being successfully recycled, but the Council wants to work together with residents to make this even better.

Many residents do their best to recycle correctly and in line with our guidance, but despite their best efforts, they may not always get it right. Last year, 1,460 tonnes of waste collected in red and blue-lidded bins could not be recycled due to items incorrectly placed in recycling containers and instead had to be used for energy from waste. Incorrect recycling impacts on the quality of material that can be recycled. It is estimated that incorrect recycling will cost the Council around £180,000 in lost income and extra waste treatment costs this year.

From August 2025 to January 2026, advisors trained by M.E.L Research Ltd, a company specialising in waste behaviour change, will be working across the Borough to support our communities to recycle better. Advisors will visit homes who have been identified as putting wrong items in their recycling containers, so they can be given more support through the Recycle Right campaign. These advisors are well-equipped to offer practical advice and guidance, and answer questions to help everyone recycle right. They will be easily recognisable and carry official identification, so residents can feel confident when speaking with them.

As part of the Recycle Right Campaign, we are also introducing a new system of bin tagging. If incorrect items - such as food waste or non-recyclable materials - are found in people’s recycling container, residents may notice a tag or sticker placed on their bin. Bin tagging is a widely used and effective method among councils to improve recycling outcomes. This is a helpful way to let people know what needs to be changed, so the Council and residents can all work together to improve recycling quality.

All advisors will be carrying identification and a letter of authority that can be shown to residents on request. If residents do have any concerns about the identity of any advisors, they can call 0300 123 7026 and provide their details for the contact centre for verification. Advisors are not allowed to enter, or ask for entry, to a resident’s home or rear garden.

Watch the animation below to find out how you can recycle right.

For an in-depth list of what can be recycled, visit: Recycling A-Z - what goes where? | Cheshire West Recycling

For more information on your weekly kerbside recycling service, visit: Your bin collection | Cheshire West and Chester Council