Mayor funds six new Net Zero Neighbourhoods to improve lives, cut energy bills and protect nature

The locations of six more pioneering Net Zero Neighbourhoods in the West Midlands have been announced by Mayor Richard Parker.

The plans were set out by the Mayor on a visit to Brockmoor in Dudley - the region’s first Net Zero Neighbourhood.

Funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is already improving residents’ lives in Brockmoor with home improvements to cut their energy bills and carbon emissions, enhancing the natural environment, and making it safer and easier for them to be more active.

Homes, the primary school and even the local pub are getting solar panels, while improvements are also being made to local infrastructure to encourage people out of their cars to walk short journeys.

Six more Net Zero Neighbourhoods are now being developed across the region in partnership with local councils. They are in:

• Castle Vale, Birmingham
• Graiseley, Wolverhampton
• Park Lane Estate, Sandwell
• Chelmsley Wood, Solihull
• Dudley Fields, Walsall
• Hillfields, Coventry

The WMCA is providing £3.5million of new funding for early-stage planning that will look at a number of measures to make these areas cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable.

The Mayor met Brockmoor residents to hear how the green improvements being made to homes –many of which are over 70 years old – and the local environment are helping residents live healthier lives

The Mayor said: “Brockmoor is at the forefront of the climate revolution – together we are creating greener, cleaner spaces that are bringing down carbon emissions at the same time as energy bills.

“This change is only possible because of the drive and dedication of the residents. So far we’ve installed solar panels on the pub, primary school and homes – cutting energy bills for residents, businesses and local services. But the work doesn’t stop there as we are modernising more homes, improving insulation and creating new green spaces.

“You can already see the impact of our work. That’s why I’m funding six new Net Zero Neighbourhoods, modernising 10,000 homes and helping 3,000 businesses cut costs.

“Getting to net zero will protect the planet, cut fuel bills, and create the well paid, green jobs that will drive our economy into a new era of growth.”

Mayor Richard Parker with Vicki Bailey, Annette Adams and Garry Adams from The Old Star pub, and Tracy Deeming, Brockmoor resident and chair of the Friends of Brockmoor Park.

Tracy Deeming, chair of the Friends of Brockmoor Park, said: “Lots of residents struggle to afford their bills so everyone is feeling very optimistic at the prospect of having cheaper fuel bills giving them more money to be able to spend on other things.

“I hope that the park will be used by many more people and become a real social place for everyone living in the area. And hopefully the traffic calming measures will mean the area is a safer place for everyone to walk and cycle."

Net Zero Neighbourhoods are being delivered as part of the West Midlands’s bold new Regional Energy Strategy - drawn up by the WMCA to establish the region as a national leader in smart energy and to transform the way energy is generated, stored and used.

The long-term aim is to deliver cheaper energy bills for residents and businesses, make energy supplies more resilient, and create thousands of new green jobs.

As well as creating Net Zero Neighbourhoods, the Mayor has secured £200m to decarbonise 10,000 homes right across the region, more than 3,000 businesses, and hundreds of public buildings such as councils, schools and colleges – making them more energy efficient.

Brockmoor NZN is being delivered thanks to funding from the WMCA in partnership with Dudley Council, Equans, Keele University, Connected Places Catapult, and Carnego Systems.

Find out more about the West Midlands Net Zero Neighbourhoods on the WMCA website