Breckland 2035 Sustainability Strategy

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in global temperatures and other characteristics of the atmosphere. Climate has changed throughout Earth's long history, but this time it's different. Human activity is causing worldwide temperatures to rise higher and faster than any time we know of in the past.

What climate change is andfurther information about its impact can be viewed on the GOV.UK website (opens new window).

Breckland District Council declared a climate emergency on 19 September 2019. Since then, the council has committed to reducing the level of greenhouse gases within the district. We are striving to achieve net zero as an organisation by 2035. We have also developed a sustainability strategy focusing on three main themes:

1. Reducing our own impact as an organisation on the environment.
2. Using our regulatory powers to influence behavioural change (including planning, waste and recycling, environmental protection).
3. Enabling our communities to take action for themselves.

Further information

• Breckland Sustainability Strategy 2021-35 (PDF) [203KB] (opens new window)
• Sustainability Programme of Work (PDF) [209KB] (opens new window)

In 2019/2020 the council approved to carry out a baselining exercise to understand its major emission sources. Since then, data has continued to be collected and shared each financial year to monitor and track progress. This latest report provides an update on the organisations progress towards achieving a net zero position by 2035.

Resources to support the Sustainability Strategy

We have created the following new work programme by releasing £525,000 of funding to support our strategy:  

• £100,000 to create new tree planting and environmental schemes.
• £60,000 to deliver additional electric vehicle charging points in the district.
• £200,000 to reduce the impact of Council owned builds on the environment. 
• £100,000 to create a grant scheme to support community environmental projects. 
• £10,000 to look at further initiatives to reduce the impact of member/staff travel.
• £5,000 to promote switch and save schemes for residents.
• £50,000 to commission feasibility studies on renewable energy options in Breckland.

Prior to the agreement of our strategy, we made the following decisions and funding allocations to also support Environmental issues, these include:

• £825,000 to replace all the street lights it owns with LED alternatives which is already reducing energy consumption. 
• £90,000 to fund a new two-year fixed term Environment and Climate Change Officer.
• £10,000 to carry out an initial carbon audit to understand its emissions more fully.
• £10,000 for Elected Member ICT kit to enable paperless meetings.

Carbon Literacy training 

At the beginning of May 2021, the council delivered carbon literacy training for elected members to make sure that they fully understand the basis around climate change and the actions required to reach net-zero by 2035.

Green Community Grants 

Breckland District Council launched its Green Community Grants scheme in order to support communities in Breckland to take action for themselves. The aim is to promote environmental sustainability and create positive behavioural change in response to climate change. The fund awarded £98,226 worth of grants, shared between 30 projects.  More information can be found here Green Community Grants 

Applications are now closed.

Tree planting 

The council is currently looking into increase trees and canopy cover across the District. At the moment a number of potential sites are being reviewed. Once sites are identified, Breckland Council will work with the Woodland Trust to identify a strategy for each site including funding options such as the More Trees Fund and the English Woodland Creation Fund. 

Community Orchards

The council secured £26,400 from the Kings Coronation Living Heritage Fund. This initiative, supported by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, aims to reduce the effects of climate change by planting 130,000 trees across England.
Communities have already started to apply for this funding and new community orchards are being planted across the District.  We are looking forward to seeing them all grow from strength to strength. 

If you are interested in taking more actions and want to reduce your business and personal carbon footprint, please take a look at the available schemes below:

Money Saving Links

• Renewable Energy Provider (opens new window)
• Saving Water Advice (opens new window)
• Water Fountains (opens new window)

Breckland Council have four charging points in the following Breckland car parks, serviced and maintained by Pogo Charge. 
These allow for two cars to charge simultaneously and offer Fast and Rapid charging.

• Swaffham - Pedlars Car Park Market Place, PE37 7AB
• Attleborough - Queens Square Car Park, Queens Square, NR17 2AE
• Thetford - Pike Lane Car Park, Pike Lane, IP24 2DR
• Dereham - Cowper Road Car Park, Cowper Road, NR19 2DA

Additional charging points are located below, operated on a profit-share basis for the Council by Mer UK. 
These allow for four cars to charge simultaneously, with two Rapid and two Fast sockets:

• Swaffham - Theatre Street Car Park, Theatre Street PE37 7HF
• Attleborough - Kittel Close Car Park, Kittell Close IP25 6DA

You are able to view all electric charging points in the UK on Zap-Maps websiteview all car electric charging points in the UK on the Zap-Maps website (opens new window).