Reaching net-zero in a rural county
Jenna Frudd, our relationship manager, reflects on how reaching net-zero in a rural county has its challenges and how they may be overcome
When it comes to sustainability, we’re all on slightly different journeys and timelines – but we all have the same ultimate goal: to meet the UK Government’s 2050 targets and stave off the worst impacts of climate change. At Willmott Dixon, we know that focusing on the facts and figures will only get us so far, and true value lies in collaboration and discussion. That’s where a series of roundtables comes in.
Most recently, we hosted two roundtables in the UK’s second largest county – the first in Lincoln city centre and the second in Boston, East Lincolnshire. The discussions highlighted that a one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability isn’t feasible, even across a single county. Instead, plans need to unite people in smaller geographical areas such as towns and cities. If private and public sectors band together and strategise as a unit, local needs can be more appropriately addressed.
Connectivity across a diverse landscape
It’s clear to me that there are a lot of challenges across Lincolnshire. First and foremost is connectivity, thanks to its geographical location and rural terrain.
Michelle Sacks, deputy chief executive (growth) for the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, pointed out that the district has 1,400 HGVs leave Spalding (one of the UK’s largest food clusters) every day that don’t reach a dual carriageway until they leave the area. This is an unnecessary obstacle that many parts of the country don’t have to contend with.
It was interesting to note that while both roundtables touched upon connecting the dots and better investment in infrastructure, it was discussed in much more length in Boston, which highlights discrepancies within even the same county. Connectivity has a massive impact on the realistic sustainability goals of a county. It’s part of the embedded culture to hop in your car in Lincolnshire, as public transport becomes difficult as soon as you leave the city centre.
Increasing investment in infrastructure
Considering Lincoln’s history and the county’s reduced infrastructure investment, compared to elsewhere in the UK, the Lincoln city roundtable discussed how the city can become more sustainable, retain its character, and influence neighbouring areas.
Meanwhile, the Boston roundtable delved into how national strategy doesn’t always work at a local level. The panel discussed at length how the sustainable transport routes and infrastructure, which are highly praised in cities such as Nottingham and Bristol, just aren’t feasible in East Lincolnshire because of the connectivity and transport barriers faced by the district.
Levelling Up funding is, therefore, crucial. We have helped several local authorities with securing the Levelling Up Funding bid – including Boston Borough Council. By offering a consultancy-led approach, we work with customers to support funding applications with feasibility reporting, and project cost plans and programmes to ensure the bid is as robust as possible.
Local authorities can provide that ‘golden thread’. By securing funding and commissioning sustainability-focused projects they are not only taking steps forwards towards net zero but also ensuring this work filters down to the local community.
Regeneration and development projects change the dynamics of an area and offer intangible benefits people aren’t even aware of. This can include securing work experience or employment with appointed contractors and their supply chain on a nearby project – something we are passionate about – or receiving a high-quality education at the new or refurbished local college, as a direct result of Town Deal funding.
Investment is therefore crucial for the sustainability of our towns and cities, and not just the buildings within them.
Utilising collaboration to reach sustainability targets
All of our roundtables have touched upon the importance of collaboration. For me, this is even more important in Lincolnshire thanks to its disjointed, rural geography and connectivity issues.
Instead of public, private, and voluntary sector organisations working in siloes, and only driven by the 2050 target, together we can unlock funding, drive down costs, increase efficiency and begin providing benefits at scale.
The private sector has greater flexibility to drive innovation and the public sector has more influence on ensuring consistency. Therefore, in my opinion, it’s a balance of responsibility in reaching where we need to be by 2050. We all must hold ourselves accountable and work together to raise standards.
Working closer with competitors plays into this approach too, removing an uncomfortable feeling felt by many when sharing progress. It was agreed that this comes down to education and adopting best practice.
Final thoughts
It’s clear that Lincolnshire faces some challenges but there is also so much opportunity. I thought Steve Golightly, principal sustainability officer at Lincolnshire County Council, put it perfectly when he said, “we are a county like no other and solutions must be bespoke”.
My Willmott Dixon colleagues and I were so inspired by the commitment and dedication to the county displayed at both roundtables. There is plenty of passion to see Lincolnshire succeed and not only reach its net zero targets but also leave a positive legacy that has tangible benefits for communities across the county.