How we’re performing so far
We are continuing to deliver on our Fairer Environment ambitions, taking significant steps toward achieving net-zero emissions and improving the city’s environment.
Efforts to support a Green Economy include energy efficiency grants for small businesses, voluntary and community organisations, and landlords with SME tenants. The programme, open until March 2025, provides tailored energy-saving plans and grants of up to £10,000 (£20,000 for VCS) for retrofits. Micro-businesses are also encouraged to join the Sustainable City Charter, promoting sustainable practices.
Our commitment to green careers is evident through the Green Skills programmes, launched in September. Initial courses such as the Retrofit Assessor Bootcamp and AutoCAD training have begun, with further programs planned as part of the forthcoming Green Skills Innovation Centre. Partnerships with key stakeholders are ensuring the curriculum aligns with industry needs.
A year after declaring an ecological emergency, we launched our Greening and Biodiversity Strategy to enhance green spaces and protect biodiversity. Westminster now boasts 27 Green Flag Awards for its parks, including six Green Heritage Site Accreditations, cementing its status as a leader in urban green space management. Recent successes in sustainable development have been recognised, with awards for Daventry House and 300 Harrow Road.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate our commitment to tackling climate change, enhancing green infrastructure, and fostering sustainable careers, ensuring Westminster becomes cleaner, greener, and more accessible for all residents and visitors.
Below we have highlighted other ways we are progressing on our Delivery Plan from July to September this year*. Although progress continues to be made, we know there is still work to do as we work to deliver our Fairer Westminster strategy.
(* based on the latest positions available at the end of September 2024.)
Sustainable transport
Our aim is to encourage sustainable and active modes of transport for our residents, reduce air pollution and make electric vehicles a more appealing option...
We’re fully committed to expanding and improving our cycling network, making it easier for everyone to ride and walk around our city. Cycling is fast, eco-friendly, and great for health, so we’re focused on creating a safe, accessible environment for active travel.
We're working to deliver three new cycleways – C40, C43, and C51 – through central Westminster by 2026. This hasn’t been simple, but we’re listening closely to feedback from residents, businesses and cyclists to ensure routes are both safe and practical for everyone. After public consultation, we’re adjusting our plans to better meet local needs.
We've also consulted on several additional routes and will begin construction on others next year. Recent improvements include 55 new cycling stands, 3,400 e-bike parking spaces, 250 cycle hangars, and new cargo and hire bike stations. Through these efforts, we're proud to see more people cycling in Westminster than ever.
Sustainable city
Our aim is to support the sustainability of our city and build its resilience...
The Sustainable City Charter hosted a Summer Showcase at Somerset House in July, aimed at driving up signatory numbers and engagement. Some of our signatories are working together on an event this year to bring signatory occupiers and landlords together to tackle some common sustainability challenges. We have also continued to roll out a series of webinars for signatories, with most recent being on climate adaptation & resilience in September.
We are committed to being open and transparent and making information on our progress more accessible to everyone. This way you can always see how we're doing on delivering a Fairer Westminster. The above are just a few of the ways we're measuring how we're building a Fairer Environment. You can also find out more at our Open Data page and by reading our Fairer Westminster Delivery Plan:
