A partnership bid to help Bristol reach net zero and bring £1bn of investment into the city has been launched. The Bristol City Leap initiative between the council and renewable energy company Ameresco is aiming to transform the way Bristol generates, distributes, stores and uses energy. European energy company Vattenfall is also part of the joint venture.
The 20-year deal was approved in December, with contracts to finalise the agreement signed aboard the SS Great Britain on Wednesday (January 18).
Over the next five years, Bristol City Leap is expected to deliver at least £424m in a range of large infrastructure projects to reduce Bristol’s carbon footprint by 140,000 tonnes. Projects will include a major expansion of Bristol’s heat network; the installation of solar panels and low-carbon heating systems in local schools; and Bristol City Council’s social housing will be made more energy efficient.
Those behind the initiative have estimated the partnership will deliver £61.5m of social value to the city over the next five years including more than 1,000 new jobs, apprenticeships and work placements.
A new community energy development fund worth £1.5m and a pledge to pay Bristol City Leap staff and any subcontractors within the supply chain the real living wage are also among the proposals.
Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, said: “Bristol City Leap is a big deal for Bristol. This is a world first and sets out a clear blueprint for city-scale decarbonisation for other cities and regions to follow. Bristol City Leap will have a real impact for Bristol residents including the ways that we power and heat our homes, which is perhaps more important than ever before.”
Britta MacIntosh, senior vice president of Ameresco, added: “As municipalities across the globe consider next steps in their own decarbonisation path, we hope Bristol City Leap is a showcase example of how action drives transformative results.”
Bristol City Leap has published a summary of its five-year business plan covering the range of projects expected to be delivered up until 2027 and will be discussing opportunities across the city through a series of community launch events in March 2023.
READ NEXT
EasyJet adds Bristol Airport flights as part of schedule growth
Bristol Arena delays opening but size of venue to be increased
Improved Isles of Scilly sea links among plans as South West lands £133m
South West firms cut jobs as business activity drops - but remain optimistic for 2023
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.
