Schools, leisure centres and libraries are among the dozens of sites across the Liverpool City Region that could benefit from major investments to make them more energy efficient.
Subject to a bid for funding being accepted by the UK Government, more than 70 public buildings across the region could be helped to lower their carbon emissions in a bid to reach the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA) goal of achieving net zero by 2040. In June last year, the LCRCA secured almost £400,000 to help reduce energy bills and emissions at locations across Merseyside including St George’s Hall, the Williamson Art Gallery and St Helens Town Hall.
Now, a similar approach could be used to help a further 72 sites in the region. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said this was action the Combined Authority was taking to tackle the “existential threat” of climate emergency.
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The Combined Authority gave its backing to the proposals during its annual general meeting at Mann Island earlier today. A bid for almost £850,000 has been lodged by the Combined Authority with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Should the bid be successful, a total of 123 public building across the area will have received support since June 2022.
The cash, from the government’s low carbon skills fund, will enable specialists to work out how best to work out how best to replace fossil fuel heating in each building with low carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps and solar panels.
Plans would consider the energy source and usage of each building, identify the best options to reduce how much energy each uses, and set out how to generate the remaining energy from low carbon sources. The buildings are owned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the six councils that make up the organisation.
The outcome of the bids should be known by the end of June 2023 with a deadline for spend of 31st March 2024. Among the buildings that could benefit include Prescot Primary School, Chase Heys Home for the Elderly in Southport and Wallasey Central Library.
The mansion house at Croxteth Park is also earmarked alongside the home of the Combined Authority at Mann Island.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “It’s a clear demonstration of what we’re able to do by working collaboratively and attracting those additional funding pots. As we demonstrate our history of excellent delivery, we’re able to mop up more and more underspends from across the country and that’s why these things are really important.”
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