Case studies

A green infrastructure pilot scheme that uses rain gardens, swale (a shallow grassy drainage channel for water to run through), tree planting, and over 1,300 plants has helped to reduce surface water flooding on a residential street in Essex.

In 2020, Essex County Council appointed Jacobs and Essex Highways to develop Sustainable School Travel Design Guide after identifying the need for greater guidance to optimise sustainable design.

The ‘Love Essex Not Plastic’ campaign aimed to change the mindset of how plastic is used, reduced and recycled in Essex. By encouraging residents to sign the Essex Plastic Pledge, and commit to changing their current behaviour, they receive information to help reduce single-use plastics and find suitable alternative, plastic-free options.

Essex County Council led on this three-year, ERDF-funded project with nine other project partners across the France (Channel) England (FCE) region. BLUEPRINT will continue to help local authorities in England and France to connect the circular economy to sustainable and inclusive growth. The project created a toolkit for local authorities to use to transition to a circular economy, developed a circular economy training programme and engaged residents and businesses in circular economy practices.

In May 2023, Essex County Council unveiled the new Carbon Cutting Essex app, which will play an important role in helping Essex to transform to become a greener county.

Enfield Council have worked in collaboration with Kensa Contracting and Engie to deliver England’s largest shared ground loop array heat pump programme replacing electric heating, all in under one year and whilst the flats remained inhabited. The project serves 400 flats in eight tower blocks in Enfield was named District Heating Project of The Year at the 25th annual H&V News Awards in 2019.

London Borough of Enfield partnered with digital technology company OnePlanet to collaborate and develop the company’s existing sustainability platform to support the council to achieve their climate action targets.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich was commissioned as part of the European Sharing Cities programme to demonstrate the potential of innovation and technology in the areas of citizen engagement, mobility, energy, housing and city data platforms to benefit the environment, the city and its citizens.

This study aimed at understanding how to better encourage Surrey students to cycle to school.

The London Borough of Brent launched a community climate action grant to empower residents to take the lead on tackling the climate emergency.