West Northamptonshire Council has received £73,000 to develop an electric vehicle strategy and research new innovations which will see new technology rolled out across the area. 

The council has had its sight set on becoming net zero by 2030 and has had plans to invest in sustainable and renewable sources. 

A Cabinet meeting was held on Monday, 13 February and WNC presented its baseline emissions report for 2021-22; taking a step forward in meeting the sustainability goal to be net zero by 2030.  

This data will provide the catalyst for driving forward and implementing changes to reach this goal. 

In addition to the £73,000, the council has also been awarded £7 million to invest in Daventry Leisure Centre, Moulton Leisure Centre, Brackley Leisure Centre, and Towcester Centre.  

This funding will be invested to deliver heat decarbonisation and improved energy efficiency following WNC’s successful application to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme phase 3b. 

Over the next 12 months, WNC will be working with Northampton Partnership Homes to review and procure a number of electric vans and consider how it can continue to increase the number of electric vehicles in future. 

This work will continue to be supported by partnership work between WNC and NPH to carry out a feasibility study for a sustainable heat network for Northampton and Rothersthorpe Village. WNC and NPH have also been awarded £112k as part of the Heat Network Delivery Unit phase 12 funding.