Low Carbon Coventry 2020
A vision for transforming our city
Report of the Coventry 2020
Low Carbon Task Group
Presented to Coventry Partnership Conference
Thursday 2nd December 2010
Peter Woodward, Chair, Coventry 2020 Low Carbon Task Group, Coventry Partnership
Responding to the challenge of climate change is no longer an option for Coventry, it is now an imperative.
However, we do have choices about how we approach the task of transforming our great city towards a low
carbon future. We could muddle through, taking opportunities as they arise. Or we can take a lead and use
the agenda as a powerful catalyst for collective action in creating a truly sustainable Coventry for all its
citizens, businesses and organisations.
The 2009 report ‘A Low-Carbon Vision for the West Midlands in 2020’ was the prompt for our six-month
enquiry. My sincere thanks to the 120 people who gave their time, energy and creative insights to this
process. We now have a vision, clear priority action areas and, already, real delivery on the ground.
In 2007 Coventry was ranked in 17th place out of 20 British cities in the Forum for the Future ‘Sustainable
Cities Index’. In the latest index we have now risen to 7th. With vision, leadership, collaboration and
concentrated effort, I believe we can get to Number 1 well before 2020. We hope this report will inform
and inspire you to play an active part in the journey of invention ahead.
Roger Lewis, Chair of Coventry Partnership and Director, Legal & Company Secretary, Peugeot
For some years, my own business sector of vehicle manufacturing has been responding to the challenge of
designing, manufacturing and selling cars and vans for a low carbon future. It requires new ways of
thinking, new technologies and creative partnerships to deliver change.
Transforming Coventry will require all these ingredients to the power of ten or maybe a hundred. The
Coventry Partnership continues to demonstrate the value of collaboration between organisations in the city
to create a better future. I have been hugely impressed by the energy and work of the Low Carbon Task
Group. I commend all organisations to join together in turning this challenge into a real opportunity for the
city.
With a challenging economic outlook and the spectre of deep public spending cuts it is not always easy to
remain positive about the future, especially for our more vulnerable citizens. Could this agenda offer hope
of real environmental, social and economic progress in our city, to the benefit of all? I believe so.
Dr Simon Slater, Executive Director, Sustainability West Midlands
When we were developing the UK’s first low carbon regional economic strategy it became apparent this
was not enough. What would success look like in 2020 that would be desirable and realistic using existing
technology? It was hoped this aspirational narrative would help to stimulate debate on how to shape a
positive future in the next 10 years. Subsequently we have adopted ‘Vision 2020’ to help shape our
priorities and advice as we work with our business, public, and voluntary sector members.
We are delighted how Coventry have taken the challenge set down and run with it. You are a genuine
pioneer in embracing the low-carbon challenge and responding so impressively through the work of the
Low Carbon Task Group. The energy, insight and drive already demonstrated will stand the City in good
stead to capitalise on the opportunities that are bound to follow.
We are already highlighting nationally and internationally the strong ambition and drive Coventry is
showing in this area. There is every prospect for Coventry to become a beacon of best practice. That will
be great for the city and also helpful to everyone else. So keep going, the rewards will be well worth the
effort!
Contents
Page
1. Introduction
1
1.1 Context of Task Group activities
1.2 Coventry facts
1.3 Milestones on climate change
2. Key insights gained
3
3. Recommendations
4
4. Detail of enquiry process
5
4.1 Outcomes of each enquiry
4.2 Task Group terms of reference
4.3 Methodology
4.4 Task Group membership
4.5 Task Group attendees
4.6 Useful links
1. Introduction
1.1 Context of Task Group activities
In 2008 The UK Government introduced binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
through The Climate Change Act; a reduction of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. We are set on an
irreversible course to de-carbonise all aspects of our lives and economy.
The Environment Theme Group of The Coventry Partnership recognised the scale of the challenge and its
implications for change over the coming years. Could the transformation imperative be turned to our
advantage as a city?
In December 2009 The Partnership Board set up a Task Group to create a vision for how Coventry might be
in 2020 if we capitalised on the opportunities to create a low carbon, resilient city with a high quality of life
for its citizens.
The group took its cue from a ground breaking report commissioned by the then Advantage West Midlands
and produced by Forum for the Future and Sustainability West Midlands called "A Low Carbon Vision for
the West Midlands 2020".
Over 100 experts and stakeholders participated in seven half-day enquiries on key themes to create the
2020 vision and also to recommend key action areas on the transformation journey.
23rd April
21st May
25th June
16th July
1st October
28th October
19th November
Transport Enquiry
Energy Use Enquiry
Employment Enquiry
Local Food Economy Enquiry
Climate Change Adaptation Enquiry
Buildings, Houses and City Centre Enquiry
Resource Recovery Enquiry
This report summarises the outcomes of the process. It:
 seeks to describe elements of an ambitious low carbon vision for Coventry in 2020
 identifies action areas to achieve the step change necessary
 recommends key ways to build momentum to capitalise on the presenting opportunities
This report offers a summary of key outcomes. The enquiries produced a far greater richness of ideas and
information, available in detailed reports on The Coventry Partnership website.
It has been published to coincide with the Coventry Partnership Conference on 2nd December to be
attended by nearly 200 key stakeholders from across the city.
It should be noted that the vision is not the product of a comprehensive programme of research and
analysis. Rather, it represents a creative snapshot of locally fermented ideas and possibilities. As such it is
not intended as a definitive statement, but rather as a catalyst to stimulate further debate and galvanise
programmes of action. The whole exercise was undertaken at virtually zero cost, relying on the goodwill of
individuals and their ‘host’ organisations. It is a powerful expression of a growing collective commitment to
navigate a route towards the low carbon transformation of Coventry.
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1.2 Coventry facts
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Coventry has a population of 310,000 people.
This is expected to grow by 16,000 in the coming decade.
The average age is 35 which is 5 years younger than the national average
26% of population are from black and minority ethnic groups
17% of Coventry residents live in areas amongst the 10% most deprived in England
There are 132,000 dwellings in Coventry. 82% are privately owned
24,000 dwellings are let by social landlords
75% of the city’s population are economically active
25% of the population has a degree. 14% have no qualifications at all
The population has fewer qualifications than average for England
160,000 cars are registered in Coventry (lower than the national average)
22% of people travel to work by foot, cycle or public transport
CO2 emissions stand at 6.0 tonnes per person – 14% lower than the UK average
From 2005 to 2008 emissions dropped by over 10% - double the average reduction seen nationally
Over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 are currently emitted annually from road transport in the city
The city uses around 6,800 Giga watt hours (GWh) of energy every year
Total CO2 emissions in 2008 were 1.85 million tonnes
44% of Coventry is greenspace
(snapshot data from ‘State of the City: Coventry 2010’)
1.3 Milestones on climate change
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October 2006 – Coventry City Council signs "The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change",
acknowledging the impact of climate change and committing to tackling its causes and effects.
March 2008 - The Coventry Partnership publishes a "Climate Change Strategy for Coventry". The City
has set a carbon dioxide emission reduction target of 40% by 2025 leading to 70% by 2050.
November 2008 - The Climate Change Act sets legally binding green house gas emission reduction
targets of 34% for 2020 and 80% for 2050.
February 2009 - Coventry signs The Covenant of Mayors sharing a commitment with 1,900 local
authorities across Europe to meet the EU’s carbon reduction objectives by 2020.
April 2009 - Forum for the Future publish "A Low Carbon Vision for the West Midlands 2020".
November 2009 - The Coventry Partnership Board approves a proposal to set up a Coventry 2020
Low Carbon Task Group to explore potential of the carbon transformation agenda.
October 2010 - Forum for the Future publish their latest "Sustainable Cities Index" which tracks
progress on sustainability in Britain’s twenty largest cities, ranking them across three broad baskets:
environmental performance, quality of life; and future-proofing.
Parameter/Year
Environmental performance
Quality of life
Future proofing
Overall ranking
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2010
3
12
8
7
2009
5=
13
10
11
2008
6
18
8
14
2007
12
16
16
17
On December 2nd 2010 The Task Group reports its vision findings and recommendations at the
Coventry Partnership Annual conference.
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2. Key insights gained
The enquiry process has revealed a number of insights and keys to success that provide a sure foundation
to a rigorous and robust process for the rapid conversion of the vision into reality.
This agenda is bigger than ’environment’
Climate change is often still pigeon-holed as an environmental agenda. Transformation to a low
carbon future offers profound social, economic and environmental potential in creating a more
sustainable Coventry. It will also have serious consequences to all sectors if we fail to meet the
challenges ahead. This agenda must inform every decision we make about change in the city.
Enterprise as the engine of change
Enterprise is the key engine of change. A study by Coventry University has indicated the potential
for low carbon technologies to contribute at least £1.9 billion each year to the Coventry economy
leading to the creation of over 25,000 local jobs. All public bodies can help accelerate change by
creating the right framework for investment through progressive policies and procurement practise.
It won’t just ‘happen’
Capitalising on this ‘once in a generation’ opportunity is not a given. Cities across the country are
holding similar conversations. We need local dynamic leadership now that recognises the potential,
puts it at the top of the regeneration agenda and will rapidly harness our smartest brains to devise
the means to deliver transformational change.
Coventry is well placed
Coventry is large enough to do big things in, yet compact enough to organise itself effectively. We
have big regeneration opportunities ahead, not least in the city centre. We have great universities
and colleges at the cutting edge of technology and skills development. We are a proven city of
invention with a strong manufacturing and skills base in the heart of the Country. We have an
authentic story to tell on innovation and enterprise.
Helping vulnerable people
The economic downturn and public sector cuts are having a disproportionate impact on our most
vulnerable citizens. We can and should choose deliberately to harness the transformation agenda
to invest in helping to tackle poverty, welfare dependency and those most vulnerable in our city.
Collaboration and scale
We will only make the most of this opportunity through effective multi-agency collaboration. We
already do this well in Coventry. But we must step up a gear and create new alliances and
structures fit for purpose. We also need to scale-up to create more dynamic partnerships beyond
our city boundaries.
Behaviour change
There are great examples of change in the right direction already taking place in Coventry. But there
remains widespread ignorance, inertia and complacency that must be tackled. Behaviour change is
essential at all levels and we must kindle a Coventry spirit to drive change forwards.
Community Action
Everyone is affected by this agenda. Individual householders and neighbourhoods must be
encouraged to take greater control in building local resilience and harnessing the low carbon
agenda. We need a new social enterprise culture in Coventry.
These key insights have been translated into the recommendations below.
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3. Recommendations
1) Local leadership
Galvanise high profile, inspired political and organisational leadership, driving a positive ‘local to
international’ ten-year campaign for Coventry as ‘The City’ leading on low carbon transformation.
2) Sustainable Coventry initiative (Sci-blues)
Capture public imagination by devising a joined up programme of awareness raising and support to
help people change their behaviour towards lower carbon living.
3) Transformation beacons
Identify and invest in high profile demonstrations of how the future is already emerging in Coventry
to build confidence and a drive for change that will also attract external investors and export market
potential.
4) Policy frameworks
Embed the enquiry findings in revisions to all policy documents and plans in order to create a more
dynamic and supportive framework for action. This includes our Climate Change Strategy,
Community Strategy and other key public policy documents.
5) Partnership structures
Consider the best ways in which the Coventry Partnership theme groups and other collaborative
structures can maximise the potential of this agenda in a coherent and dynamic way and invest in
them appropriately to ensure success.
6) Target vulnerable people
Invest time and effort in a social enterprise model with the integrity to ensure resources are
invested to help the most vulnerable people in our city, in ways that normal market forces might
overlook.
7) Social enterprise culture
Convene key players in education, business and community sectors to find ways to create a more
dynamic social enterprise culture in Coventry to embed this agenda with lasting value at community
level.
8) Build resilience
Our changing climate is already having an impact on Coventry. All actions designed to create a low
carbon city must also embed adaptation to the impacts of climate change to create a more resilient
city in an increasingly uncertain world.
9) Annual conference
Convene an annual Low Carbon Coventry Conference to assess progress, inspire new stakeholders
and build momentum for further action.
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4. Detail of Enquiry process
4.1 Outcomes for each enquiry
This section summarises key findings from the seven enquiry sessions, including contextual information,
elements of a low carbon vision for Coventry 2020 and recommendations to achieve a step change in each
area. These are not comprehensive but aim to give a flavour of the opportunities for and direction of
travel.
Enquiry 1 - Transport
E1.1 The issue/opportunity
Carbon dioxide emissions from road transport in Coventry dropped by just over 7% from 2005 to
2008 but still stand at 416,000 tonnes per year. Transport emissions are likely to be one of the most
difficult sources of emissions to tackle due to our reliance on the motor car. Although hybrids and
low emission vehicles are starting to enter the market and overall new car emissions are falling,
there remains much to do. The compact nature of Coventry along with the relative lack of
congestion due to the ring road means there is opportunity to make decisive reductions in the city’s
emissions in the next ten years.
E1.2 Vision for getting around Coventry in 2020
Infrastructure
- Quality bus services now include interactive real time information (RTI), integration with
urban traffic management centre (UTMC), smart card ticketing and better Integrated Travel
Authority governance
- Bus rapid transit services like SPRINT allow people in Coventry and Warwickshire to easily
access key employment sites and has reduced commuting by car significantly
- New park and ride sites to the north-east and west of the city have helped traffic flows on
Holyhead, Foleshill and Ansty radial routes
- Completion of cycle route network and introduction of Cycle Highways has increased cycling
levels from 2% to 5% in ten years.
- The improved public lighting across the city has boosted walking and cycling through
increasing perceived safety – this has helped obesity levels start to fall
Planning and behavioural issues
- Car club schemes have reduced car journeys removed older vehicles from the roads
- Citywide car share database has reduced car journeys into and out of the city
- City centre redevelopment has encouraged walking and cycling over car use
- Remote access and teleconferencing facilities have allowed greater flexible working reducing
business trips across the city by 20%
- Travel plans now cover 60% of the working population and the linking together of many
organisations’ travel plans has brought great benefits through shared solutions
- Many more pupils now walk and cycle to school due to school travel plans, safer routes to
school and a huge increase in the number of walking buses for primary schools
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E1.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Travel wardens
Encourage organisations and communities to reduce their number of car journeys through
advice and guidance based on the energy warden approach. Engaging with people on a face to
face basis to understand the obstacles to adopting low carbon ways of transport and removing
barriers to their uptake has been shown to be productive. A virtual travel office providing
journey planning information and advising on low carbon travel choices will be a valuable
support to travel wardens.
2. Develop and promote car clubs
The development of a number of Coventry car club schemes can potentially reduce car journeys
especially if expanded to include major employers in the city. Significant cost reductions to
employers relocating to the city makes the city a more tempting prospect to investors. Local air
quality will benefit as older vehicles are taken out of use.
3. Encouraging behavioural change
Use social marketing techniques to make low carbon means of travel fun and engaging. Reengineering the message and making it a lifestyle choice could hugely encourage uptake and
begin to address health issues through reducing obesity. Major on the lifestyle and health
benefits and not on the loss of car use.
4. Organisational travel plans
Promote travel planning to all organisations in the city and, crucially, link them to explore where
joint benefits can be realised. Promote this integrated travel planning as a unique selling point
for organisations locating to the city.
Enquiry 2 - Energy Use
E2.1 The issue/opportunity
The city uses around 6,770 Giga Watt hours (GWh) of energy every year leading to nearly 2 million
tonnes of CO2 being emitted as a result. This equates to around 22.5 Kilo Watt hours per person
which gives a per capita carbon footprint of just over 6 tonnes. The use of energy is split roughly
50:50 across domestic and commercial users and even though electricity constitutes only 22% of
energy use – it is responsible for 40% of all carbon emissions due to its higher carbon cost of
generation. Business as usual predicts that an extra 515 GWh and 200,000 tonnes of CO 2 could
result from increasing use of electrical products in the home and an assumed modest population
growth of 3%.
E2.2 Vision for how Coventry uses energy in 2020
Microrenewables and insulation
- Over 25% of all Coventry homes have solar panels either producing electricity or hot water
due to enthusiastic uptake of the Feed in Tariff (FIT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
schemes.
- Collaboration with ethical lenders and the Green Bank scheme allowed residents to install
renewables in their homes and pay less for their energy. A loan guarantee scheme helped
those who struggle to access finance.
- Coventry has the highest concentration of certified installers of renewables
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Funding from energy suppliers via the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) has
largely eradicated fuel poverty by treating hard to treat homes – giving Coventry one of the
highest home insulation (SAP) ratings in the UK
A vigorous retrofit scheme is bringing existing homes up to similar standards as new homes
Coventry residents are some of the most energy efficient in the UK – academic research
confirms this behavioural change and it’s cited as best practice nationally
District heating and decentralised energy
- Beginning with the Heatline which brought hot water into the city from the Waste to Energy
Plant there is now an extensive district heating scheme in the city reaching as far as Spon
End, Radford, Foleshill and Swanswell.
- Funding from the EU and CESP schemes along with strategic heat maps produced in 2010
allowed rapid expansion of the network
- Developers plan new housing around the heat and power network operated by the Coventry
Energy Company and demand is high for homes with this reliable, low cost supply.
- Commercial and industrial users have been quick to see the benefits of low cost and high
reliability and have cited this as a reason to relocate to the city.
- Five large and thirty medium wind turbines along with ten small scale hydroelectric schemes
also provide clean power to the city.
Alternative fuels - Biomass cultivation is taking place on many areas of disused or undevelopable land in the
city – organisations can offset unavoidable carbon emissions by investing in tree planting
- Biogas is now big business with Severn Trent and E.ON supplying biogas into the grid
- Local people continue to benefit from training schemes covering biomass cultivation
techniques
City centre
- Redevelopment of the city centre is nearing completion with commercial property
occupation rates higher than expected in part due to lower running costs for heating/cooling
of premises as a result of district schemes and alternative fuel provision
- Visitors to the city centre are able to charge their vehicles with energy produced from local
renewable sources
E2.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Form a local enterprise partnership (later modified to social enterprise)
Huge role for Coventry Partnership to facilitate the formation of a public/private/third sector
partnership to collaborate on accessing funding and providing training so the city can maximise
energy efficiency through improved insulation and local generation.
2. Structured approach to retrofitting of properties and increase in renewables
City Council and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to work together to accelerate the
retrofitting of insulation to city homes by maximising CESP funding and encouraging Coventry to
access FIT and RHI possibilities – potential delivery of services by Coventry firms.
3. Gear up through training
Ensure that Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) sectors are linked with the
employers beginning to enter the renewables and retrofitting markets to ensure training and
skills are matched to needs locally. Create environmental forum of training providers and
employers to maximise opportunities for the city to capitalise on the green sector growth
potential of c. 26,000 jobs.
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Enquiry 3 - Employment
E3.1 The issue/opportunity
Coventry’s employment mix has changed many times over the years from weaving to watch making
to bicycle manufacture to aerospace and automotive production. The digital, medical and
environmental sectors are emerging as high growth areas in which Coventry is poised to take a lead.
The environmental sector includes engineering in the expanding nuclear industry, renewable energy
opportunities and retrofit industry and has been assessed as potentially being worth over £2 billion
per year to the city and with the possibility of creating 26,000 new jobs.
E3.2 Vision for employment in Coventry 2020
Training and skills provision
- By 2020 Coventry is a centre of excellence for skills, training and enterprise for a low carbon
economy and the destination of choice for investment from forward thinking firms
- There is a highly skilled workforce to service all commercial environmental sectors – skills are
broad-based and will make the city resilient
- Universities and colleges in the city are at the forefront of research and development, new
product development and commercialisation of products
- Training provision is agile, locally-provided and closely supports supply chain development
- There are diverse supply chains and these companies will in themselves be low carbon
enabling operating costs to be reduced and resilience improved through, for example,
advanced ICT and flexible working
- A successful social enterprise has levered in significant investment to the city, created many
new jobs, trained hundreds of employees and been involved in many major low-carbon
projects in the city since 2011
Transport
- Coventry is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of low carbon
vehicles
- The city is an acknowledged authority in the real-world application and evaluation of low
carbon transport options through its pragmatic partnership with academia
Housing
- Major manufacturing facilities exist for precision off-site construction of highly insulated
building elements to meet the national demand for low carbon homes and utilise local skills
- A thriving retrofit insulation sector exists along with prosperous renewables companies
ensuring that city homes are low carbon and the region is well-served from Coventry
E3.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Social enterprise concept
Establish a social enterprise in 2010 with initial partners of Coventry City Council, Chamber of
Commerce and E.ON. Initially this enterprise would carry out insulation retrofit work within the
city working with RSLs and utilities suppliers though schemes such as CESP. Engagement with
the community and knowledge of skills gaps would then allow the enterprise to expand into
other opportunities in the city such as renewables, local food provision and construction.
2. Create an agile skills delivery group
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This group will link training providers and companies in the environmental sector to ensure that
training provision is provided sufficiently quickly and in the right area in order to maximise
opportunities in emerging markets. The group must be able to react quickly and efficiently
deliver training solutions from the HE and FE sectors. An example is the accreditation of
renewables installers to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) standard enabling
them to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme.
3. Creation of a Coventry Hub
This would be a single point of contact for training providers and firms to obtain up to date
information on the environmental sector and current training provision in the area. Such a hub
would enable new opportunities to be identified, training provision developed and delivered to
allow local companies to gain market share.
Enquiry 4 - Local Food Economy
E4.1 The issue/opportunity
Increasingly our food is brought to us from far afield to enable us to consume fruit and vegetables
that would not ordinarily be available out of season. This has a high carbon cost and can mean that
transportation problems leave us with supply problems. Coventry has a surprisingly large amount of
greenspace within its boundary (44%) as well as access to large tracts of agricultural land in
Warwickshire. An opportunity exists to improve the resilience of the city, make diets healthier,
improve community cohesion and help people to more active lifestyles through encouraging local
food growing.
E4.2 Vision for the local food economy in Coventry 2020
Specific ideas
- Thirty community “mini farm” schemes with communal pigs and chickens supplied by street
level composting - mini-farms are tied in with larger white meat farms in region – 60% of all
eggs in the city are home laid
- Reduction in waste is recognised through council tax bills and has allowed street level
schemes to be cost neutral or make a small profit
- Grey water systems have been set up to reduce the water cost of cultivation and adapt to
climate change through attenuating drainage into watercourses – as a result water use in the
city has reduced by 40%
- Coventry has a no pesticides policy for gardens and public open spaces
- Organisations in the city have invested in work allotments and allow staff time off to tend
them and use their produce in staff canteens
- “Good Food on a Public Plate” scheme has delivered healthy, locally grown food to hospitals,
schools and council offices.
- A number of small social enterprises have sprung up using greenspace in the sub-region to
grow local food – these schemes are supported by training provision such as the NVQ in
Local Food Markets
- Supermarkets in the city have committed to support local food businesses and have local
procurement arrangements agreed – these tie in with their carbon offsetting plans
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The health implications of local food growing activities are now well recognised with
gardening therapy being used to improve well being and activity levels – the rise in obesity
levels has been halted with adult obesity declining
Communities are more cohesive as a result of local involvement in food provision – sharing
of food growing knowledge between generations is particularly valuable
E4.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Public procurement
Public sector organisations in the city all have a target to improve quality of life and health –
they also have huge purchasing power with which to facilitate change. Sustainable procurement
policies incorporating local food policies will establish local demand and create the conditions
for local food suppliers to gear up.
2. Use of food waste
Food waste needs to be seen as a resource to be recovered and put to good use. A better use of
food waste can be made by using local collection schemes to support local food growing or to
establish a “milk round” to collect food waste to feed local anaerobic digesters to produce heat
and power.
3. Training
There needs to be a way for people to gain the skills to engage in local food growing –
sponsorship from companies in the city through CSR schemes could enable on-site training to be
provided to allotment holders. A Coventry wide master composter/gardener initiative could
support the local social enterprise agenda and train 80 volunteers in 2011.
4. Awareness raising
Showcase successful activities and share information on how to get started in the local food
economy. Identify land that is not likely to be developed and work with communities to put the
land back into use as a source of local food. Engage with children through schools and tie local
food, healthy eating and activity into the sustainable curriculum.
Enquiry 5 – Climate Change Adaptation
E5.1 The issue/opportunity
Climate predictions for Coventry show a trend towards hotter, drier summers and warmer wetter
winters. Severe weather incidents throughout the year will increase including wind, precipitation
and high temperatures.
E5.2 Vision for Coventry 2020 adapting to the impacts of climate change
Cultural adaptation
- Householders, community groups and businesses are aware of increasing risks and are taking
personal responsibility to build their own local resilience
Policy adaptation
- All plans by local authority and partners have an adaptive component
- Emergency responses are linked to strategic planning
Physical adaptation Page 10 of 17
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Improved storm drainage and maintenance – move to manage water ‘on site’
More green and blue space in the city
All new build is resilient to future climate conditions
Priority retrofit programme for building stock/infrastructure at risk
Coventry innovates porous paving and more imaginative use of open spaces
E5.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Improving community resilience
Use existing communication channels in the city to encourage individuals and communities to
become more ‘adaptation aware’ and build local resilience capacity. Education through from
primary to FE needs to raise awareness of adaptation and nudge people to consider how to
become more resilient to the inevitable effects of climate change.
2. Creating a ‘Living Lab’
Coventry to become a climate change adaptation ‘Living Lab’, a centre of excellence linking
higher education R&D with business innovation and local communities to develop, test ideas and
export internationally.
3. Embedding adaptation in urban design
Engage with all professionals including designers and engineers to ensure adaptation best
practice is integrated into all future city developments so that Coventry is seen as a best adapted
and resilient location for investment and relocations.
Enquiry 6 – Buildings, Houses and City Centre
E6.1 The issue/opportunity
Heating and lighting of buildings currently accounts for around the majority of the city’s carbon
dioxide emissions. The vast majority of the buildings standing in Coventry today will still be here in
2020 meaning that the legacy of some of their poor sustainability performance will still be with us.
Huge opportunities exist both to decrease energy use and to generate energy from renewable
sources. With rising energy prices there is a particular urgency for actions to eradicate fuel poverty.
E6.2 Vision for sustainable buildings in Coventry 2020
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As a result of the ‘Coventry Code’, all new homes are being built to “Passivhaus” standard of
insulation (high levels of insulation, air tightness and heat recovery)
Residents consider the whole house cost of a property when choosing a home – rent or
mortgage plus cost of heating/powering the home – so that informed choices can be made
The carbon footprint of Coventry housing has been reduced by 40% in 10 years
Fuel poverty has been eliminated from Coventry
Private landlords have adopted high standards of efficiency for their stock
Coventry boasts the first carbon neutral city centre
Local energy generation hubs support neighbourhood development
New buildings become part of community infrastructure for heat and power provision
E6.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Showcase the future today
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Highlight projects across the city that demonstrate transformation models from individual
household to urban sustainable village scale. Tie in with Sustainable Coventry initiative and make
it visible and accessible. Develop mixed tenure retrofit scheme.
2. Must be demand led
Multi agency partnership to create demand led model for financing and delivering new build and
retro-fit programmes at an economic scale across the city. Clear role for a social enterprise to
bring local providers together and to lever in funds from enlightened investors and banks.
3. Skills and employment
Vigorous investment strategies on low carbon buildings creates new local employment
opportunities and stimulates skills and training – importance of demand to drive these activities
cannot be overstated.
4. City centre exemplar
Practical planning and implementation to achieve the UK’s first zero-carbon City Centre with low
carbon energy generation and usage, achieved in practical stages. To become a Beacon of good
practice for the region/country.
Enquiry 7 - Resource recovery
E7.1 The issue/opportunity
In Coventry around half a tonne of household waste is generated by every man, woman and child
each year. Recycling rates are slowly increasing and now stand at around 32%. 58% of the city’s
waste is processed through the Energy from Waste facility where energy is recovered and 9% goes
to landfill. Landfill space in the country is fast running out and landfill tax continues to rise. The
carbon cost of waste is significant in the production of materials, their transport and subsequent
processing. It’s clear that we need to change our perception of waste to see it as a valuable
resource and that we move up the waste hierarchy of reduce, re-use, recycle, recovery and disposal.
E7.2 Vision for resource recovery in Coventry 2020
Closed Loop Coventry 2020
- Coventry is a city where resource efficiency comes first, businesses routinely use advanced
design tools to minimise their environmental impact and eliminate waste
- The diversion of waste from disposal into re-use, recycling and composting is seen as a key
economic opportunity supporting local businesses and jobs.
- The Coventry Resources Charter developed in 2011 helped to deliver a resource efficient city
by 2020 by encouraging signatories to commit to sustainable procurement specifying
minimum recycled content and product lifetime requirements and by providing a citywide
recycling infrastructure where all businesses, school and public buildings have access to
recycling facilities. This has pushed the city’s recycling rate up to 70%
- Coventry is now a recognised hub for resources to be reprocessed into new products – this
builds on the city’s established innovative and manufacturing history.
- A thriving social economy now exists in the city based around re-processing and reuse
enterprises as well as master composting schemes and food waste collection for power
generation
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Positive resource recovery behaviour is now incentivised with community environmental
rewards so that for example an increase in recycling rates in an area earns community points
which can be used to improved facilities like play areas or sports clubs
Social media and web campaigns are now extensively used to promote resource recovery to
residents and organisations
Waste from the construction sector is now minimal. Planning guidance and procurement
specifications were successful in driving huge reductions with the result that the newly
completed city centre regeneration is a case study of waste elimination and sustainable
construction
E7.3 Action areas to achieve a step change
1. Industrial symbiosis
Produce a map of the city identifying opportunities for closed loop recycling and the provision of
the necessary recycling infrastructure. This could begin with resource mapping activities on
certain large industrial estates before being rolled out to the city. The parallel development of a
commercial waste framework contract could remove some of the barriers to resource recovery
perceived by some organisations.
2. Coventry Resources Charter
A working group would be formed to bring key city stakeholders together to draw up a Charter
to begin to turn vision into reality. Early actions would include the use of social networking/web
resources to promote the Charter as well as the establishment of a communication hub as a
source of help and advice. Guidance and model approaches to sustainable procurement and
the provision of recycling infrastructure would also be key to the success of the Charter. This
ties in with other initiatives such as 20:20, zero waste and halving waste to landfill.
3. Education and training
Collaboration with education and training providers from primary school to HE and FE sectors
would be established to ensure that pupils/students of all ages learn about resource efficiency
and recovery principles. The existing Eco-schools network would be a good starting point to
embed this learning at an early age.
4.2 Task Group Terms of Reference




achieve a shared understanding of the significance of the low carbon agenda and the opportunities
this presents for the Coventry
develop a vision of a low carbon, resilient and sustainable Coventry in 2020
highlight ‘action areas’ to encourage early progress towards the vision
ensure outcomes inform reviews of the Sustainable Community Strategy, Core Strategy and other
policy documents
4.3 Methodology
Each enquiry was attended by around 30 stakeholders from across the partnership.
The highly interactive 3.5 hour sessions covered:
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


agree an ambitious vision for Coventry in 2020
understanding current and emerging activity in Coventry
agree priority action areas to achieve a step change to realise the vision
4.4 Task Group membership
Task Group Chair: Peter Woodward, Chairman, Environment Theme Group, Coventry Partnership
Professor Peter White, Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University
Bob Wilson, Director of Estates, Warwick University
Irene Cooke, Director of Business Development, City College (then Debbie Thorpe, Sales & Marketing
Manager)
Dianne Williams, Operations Director, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
John Cave, Chairman, Forum for Constructing Excellence (FORCE) & Sustainable Materials Manager EH
Smith Ltd
Michelle Egan, Partnerships Manager, Advantage West Midlands
Tony Crompton, Senior Policy Lead, Government Office West Midlands
Ross Manford, Investment and Regeneration Manager, Homes and Community Agency
Stephen Banbury, Chief Executive, Voluntary Action Coventry
June Jeffrey, Director, Community Empowerment Network
Cllr Nigel Lee, Coventry City Council, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Housing and Sustainability
(until April 2010)
Cllr Tony Skipper, Coventry City Council, Cabinet Member for Housing, Sustainability and Local
Infrastructure (from May 2010)
Carl Pearson, Assistant Director, City Services and Development, Coventry City Council
David Morgan, Head of PFI and Business Development, E.ON from May 2010
Stephen Marsh, Business Development – Sustainable Cities, E.ON from May 2010
In Attendance
Michael Checkley, Sustainability Manager, Coventry City Council
Tim Jones, Sustainability and Community Programme Team Manager, Coventry City Council
Sarah Perry, Partnership Support Officer, Coventry Partnership
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4.5
Task Group Attendees
First Name
Mark
Tim
Graham
Mohammed
Robin
John
Clive
Keith
Myles
Ed
Sinead
John
Surname
Andrews
Ashcroft
Aylott
Azeem
Baker
Barnham
Benfield
Bracey
Bremner
Brown
Cassidy
Cave
Dr Sue
Charlesworth
Michael
Stuart
Irene
Dave
Neil
Chris
Anne
Tony
Moira
Brian
Ces
Jim
Trevor
Stewart
Darren
Mark
Mark
Jane
Rob
Dr Sam
Stephen
Nick
Graham
John
David
Nikki
Geoff
Ian
Barry
Dr David
June
Navjot
Phillip
Rhian
Tim
Rachel
Andrea
Shazad
Dr Moya
John
Hannah
Cllr Nigel
Margi
Andy
Rob
Ross
Emma
Stephen
Shirley
Checkley
Claridge
Cooke
Cowing
Cowper
Coyle
Cranston
Crompton
Cullen
Dickinson
Edwards
Edwards
Errington
Fergusson
Gardner
Gaterell
Girling
Green
Haigh
Hardy
Hill
Hillard
Hine
Hirons
Holmes
Hopkins
Horsman
Humphreys
Jacques
Jarvis
Jeffrey
Johal
Johnson
Jones
Jones
Jones
Keys
Khan
Kneafsey
Kyffin-Hughes
Lambie
Lee
Lennartsson
Littlewood
Lunt
Manford
Marsh
Marsh
Mayall
Job Title
Planning Policy Officer
Renewables Estimator
Policy Officer
Project Manager - BSF
Project Manager - BSF
Head of Asset Management
Group Chairman
LA Business Manager
Chief Executive
Local Authority and Community Support Co-ordinator
Employer Engagement & Marketing Officer
FORCE Chairman & Sustainable Materials Manager - EH
Smith Ltd
Reader, Urban Physical Geography - SUDS Applied
Research Group
Sustainability and Climate Change Team Manager
Building Control Team Leader
Director of Business Development
Commercial Manager
Special Projects Officer
Fleet Office
Director – Communities, Health & Wellbeing
Senior Policy Lead
Sustainable Development Officer
Business and ICT Consultant
Parks and Horticultural Development Manager
Director of Estates
Assistant Director Strategic Planning & Transportation
Managing Director, Orbit Heart of England
Sector Advisor (Environmental Technology)
Professor of Sustainable Construction
Programme Delivery Officer
Campaigner
Senior Planning Officer
Business Engagement Officer
Climate Change and Carbon Manager
Environment Manager
Transport Manager
Growing with Schools' Development Worker
Work Experience Placement
General Manager
Principal Planning Officer
Regional Director
Consultant
Deputy Director
Director
Partnership Development Officer
Practitioner
Transport Support Officer
Project Champion
Partnership Manager
Commercial Manager - Development
Business Development Executive
Reader in Human Geography
Climate Change Officer
Senior Research Assistant
Councillor
Head of Research and Development
Sustainable Communities Officer
External Relations Officer
Investment and Regeneration Manager
Local Communications Manager
Business Development - Sustainable Cities
Healthy Schools Consultant
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Organisation
Coventry City Council
SPI
Chamber of Commerce
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
Orbit
Benfield Homes
Knowaste Ltd
Garden Organic
Energy Saving Trust
Warwickshire College
E H Smith (Sustainable Products)
Coventry University
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
City College Coventry
Smurfit Kappa
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
Groundwork
Government Office West Midlands
Government Office West Midlands
Do‐Little Consulting
Coventry City Council
City College
Coventry City Council
Orbit Heart of England
Coventry City Council
Coventry University
Midland Heart
Friends of the Earth
Coventry City Council
University of Warwick
Severn Trent
Warwick University
Warwick University
Federation of City Farms & Community
Coventry City Council
Coventry Care Partnership
Coventry City Council
NISP
NHS Coventry
SURGE (applied research centre)
Community Empowerment Network
Coventry City Council
NISP
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
Act on Energy
Sita
Veolia
Applied Research Centre in Sustainable
Coventry City Council
Applied Research Centre in Sustainable
Coventry City Council
Garden Organic
Coventry City Council
Environment Agency
Homes and Community Agency
WRAP
E.ON
Coventry City Council
Gerry
Kym
Rosanna
Nigel
Manoj
Richard
Dave
Samantha
Mary
Sharon
Mark
Christian
Joe
Kevin
Len
Metcalf
Miller
Miller
Mills
Mistry
Moon
Morgan
Morris
Morrissey
Newport
Nicholls
Okenyi
O'Toole
Palmer
Parnell
Knowledge Transfer Manager
Practitioner
Local Authority & Community Support Administrator
Transportation Planning Officer
Drainage Manager
Senior Development Executive
Head of PFI and Business Development
Partnership Facilitator
Assistant Director (Street Pride and Fleet Management)
Economic Development Manager
Head of City Centre Management
Sales Manager
Estates Manager
Energy Manager
Secretary
Trevor
John
Jon
Carl
Sarah
Phil
Tim
Carole
Esther
Carsten
Steve
Dr Mark
Denise
Mark
Jarek
Graham
Cllr Tony
Amritpal
Simon
Gaynor
Susan
Mike
Elise
Tricia
Peter
James
Krystina
Peter
Chris
Debbie
David
Jude
Nigel
Andrew
Frank
Peter
Dianne
Bob
Michael
Peter
Elsepth
Karen
Passingham
Payne
Payne
Pearson
Perry
Pilkington
Pollard
Pullin
Reeves
Renken
Rudge
Rushforth
Russell
Saunders
Scholtz
Simpson
Skipper
Slaitch
Slater
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smithson
Stewart
Streets
Struthers
Tarkowski
Taylor
Thomas
Thorpe
Tittle
Tymon
Wain
Walster
Warwick
White
Williams
Wilson
Woodhead
Woodward
Wray
Wright
Head Asset Management
Area Manager
Partnerships Team Leader
Assistant Director (Economy and Community)
Partnership Support Officer
Deputy General Manager
Head of Sustainability
Capital Programme Strategy Manager
Manager
Director Business Development - UK
Housing Manager
Acting Programmes Manager
Catering Area Supervisor
Projects Director
Project Director
Investment and Business Team Leader
Councillor
Senior Lecturer
Executive Director
Account Manager
Climate Change Officer
Non-Executive Director
Assistant Director Environment
Supply Chain Executive
Emergency Planning Manager
Partnership Development Officer
Project Manager
Skills Advocate
Knowledge Transfer Officer
Corporate Manager
Interim Chief Executive
Diversity Manager
Coventry Partnership Support Officer
Head of Fleet and Waste Management
Sustainable Drainage Applied Research Group
Associate Dean
Operations Director
Director of Estates
Managing Director, E.ON Sustainable Energy
Chair of Low Carbon Task Group
Sustainable and inclusive design officer
Food and Drink Cluster Manager
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UKCIP
NISP
Energy Saving Trust
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
E.ON
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
CSWP
CVOne
Veolia
PCT
Coventry City Council
Coventry and District Allotments and
Garden Council
Whitefriars
Coventry City Council
Advantage West Midlands
Coventry City Council
Coventry Partnership
Coventry University
Wolseley
Coventry City Council
Coventry Freegle
Envi-con
Coventry City Council
Coventry University
Coventry City Council
E.On
Envi-con
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council
Coventry University
Sustainability West Midlands
Job Centre Plus
Coventry City Council
Cofely District Energy
Coventry University
Heart of England Fine Foods
Coventry City Council
Warm Front
Coventry and Warwickshire Lifelong
Advantage West Midlands
UKCIP
City College
MADE
City College
Coventry Partnership (NW)
Coventry City Council
Coventry University
Coventry University
Chamber of Commerce
University of Warwick
E.ON
Coventry Partnership (Chair)
Commission for Architecture
Advantage West Midlands
4.6 Useful links
Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/nottingham
Coventry – The Next Twenty Years: The Coventry Sustainable Community Strategy 2008
http://www.coventrypartnership.com/upload/documents/news/SCS%20and%20LAA/Thenext20years.pdf
Coventry's Climate Change Strategy 2008
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/sustainable-development/tackling-climatechange/coventry-s-climate-change-strategy/
Climate Change Act 2008
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/legislation/cc_act_08/cc_act_08.aspx
State of the City report 2010
http://www.coventrypartnership.com/upload/documents/news/PIE%20GROUP/state%20of%20city%20201
0.pdf
Forum for the Future Low Carbon 2020
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/library/low-carbon-vision-west-midlands-2020
Forum for the Future Sustainable Cities Index 2010
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/sustainable-cities10
Coventry Partnership Environment Theme Group: additional information
http://www.coventrypartnership.com/Environment
Clean Energy Cashback Scheme
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/feedin_tariff/fe
edin_tariff.aspx
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/
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