Council funding helps local business become more sustainable
Staff and tenants in front of one of the buildings that has benefited from having solar panels installed.
A local family attraction has benefitted from funding through Cheshire West and Chester Council's Climate Emergency Fund, helping them to install a solar PV (photovoltaic) system that will benefit the business and its tenants for years to come.
Blakemere Village, near Northwich, was supported by the Council's Business Development team to apply for the Council's Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), which provides funding for low carbon projects that support the borough's ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
The family business, which has shops, craft workshops, a play barn and several attractions, has invested £165,000 in energy saving measures across their site, with £50,000 contributed through the CEF. Following a green audit of the business by Groundwork Cheshire, a local charity who support Cheshire businesses to become more sustainable, a plan to install 113 solar panels across three buildings was developed.
The new solar PV system will save the business around 19 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking four cars off the road, as well as ensuring to maintain reduced energy costs for businesses on site.
Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:
It's great to see local businesses reviewing their operations to find ways that they can reduce their carbon emissions as well as their running costs. The funding provided through the Climate Emergency Fund has helped many community groups and organisations across the borough over the last few years, from tree planting projects to introducing energy saving measures. Every one of these projects is playing its part to help the borough to meet its target of being carbon neutral by 2045.
Ginny White, Partner at Blakemere Village, said:
We were delighted to work with Cheshire West and Chester Council on this project. Their assistance and the support they provided was invaluable and allowed us to choose the right system for our business with confidence. The green audit has ensured we have planned well into the future to keep our energy costs down as well as improving our energy efficiency. We aim to continue to make progress within our business to achieve the carbon neutral deadlines set for 2045.
Solar panels on the roof of one of the buildings at Blakemere Village.
Since the Council launched the Climate Emergency Fund, 44 projects have been supported across the borough.
Businesses interested in receiving support to lower their energy costs, improve their energy efficiency and make progress to achieve net zero can apply for support through the Cheshire West and Chester Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Small and Medium Enterprises in the area interested in having solar PV systems installed can register with the group-buying scheme Solar Together Cheshire and Warrington to receive a competitive quote from a pre-vetted installer. Businesses and residents have until Friday, 27 October, to register at:
Solar panels on buildings are sometimes subject to planning permission, businesses should ensure that any requirement has been met prior to investing.
The Council has also recently launched Business Tapas, a digital knowledge hub that has been developed to accelerate business growth and bring together a wealth of resources, tutorials, and advice on core business topics, including decarbonising your business. Find out more: