What have we done?

Renewable energy 
(case study 1)

Following an energy use survey of all council owned property, our consultant CLS along with the council’s lead on renewable energy, identified the most effective way to access a Salix grant using the most suitable building in the portfolio. The tennis centre was selected as it had a large flat roof with plenty of scope for solar panels, a selection of fields in which we could incorporate piles for the ground source heat pump, and a space to incorporate batteries.

In terms of maximising carbon savings, a balance of the 4 technologies was proposed for the grant bid. The Salix bid was created to cover 4 carbon reduction methods:

1. Solar PV
2. Ground source heat pump
3. Battery storage
4. Replacement floodlights to sports field.

Works in the background have include liaison with planning authorities and the district network supplier. The electrical grid needed to be upgraded with a new supply provided.

We went out to tender and have received prices for all the works and are now in the planning stage for onsite delivery. We have found that the successful contractors have worked well in the initial stage of project planning.

Project pilgrim
(case study 2)

The panels are fitted with optimisers, which ensure that the array provides maximum power output, even if some of the panels are shadowed by the crenelated parapet during the winter months. The inverters are concealed within the nave roof space. The AC cable, which connects the inverters to the main electricity intake in the crypt of the cathedral followers an established cable route, winding down one of the Medieval spiral staircases.

The final installation fills the southern slope of the nave roof, with the revised ridge detail providing a visual 'stop' to the upper edge of the array.

The new PV array went live on the 21 November 2016, marked with a ceremony led by the Dean of Gloucester, the Very Reverend Stephen Lake.

Watercourse naturalisation work
(case study 3)

Gloucester City Council secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to improve or create around 60 hectares of habitat for wildlife and environmental improvements across the county.

The funding is being spent on schemes that will help protect and restore biodiversity and to promote wider benefits of a healthy ecosystem.

The areas earmarked in Gloucester include public spaces in Saintbridge and Sandyleaze, which have seen the planting of wildflower meadows, Haycroft Drive where there will be wildflowers, tree and bulb planting and Baneberry Road where work will be done to divert surface water and reduce flooding as well as to provide a wetland habitat for birds and insects.

Watercourse naturalisation projects are being carried out on the Sudbrook and Whaddon Brooks. The aim is to removing the unsightly, concrete channels which don’t encourage biodiversity and introducing meanders and naturalistic planting. Other projects have included the creation of wetlands by Appleton Way and in Barnwood Park.

Elsewhere in the county there’ll be improvements at the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls Campus, in Tewkesbury at Bishops Cleeve, and in Cheltenham in particular at Pittville Park, the Imperial Gardens and Sandford Park.  

The project will cost over £1.4m and has been funded by the City Council, the European Regional Development Fund, the University of Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Borough Councils, Gloucestershire County Council, and the Environment Agency.

The environmental projects carried out will see the planting of native hedgerow and wildlife corridors as well as the creation of woodland and orchards. It will also see river restoration and the construction of sustainable urban drainage systems

In addition, the scheme is intended to bring about a number of environmental benefits including the reduction of flood risks, increased biodiversity, improvements to water quality and improved urban air quality.