Housing stock and flooding responses: Council lays out plans for clean air by 2043

A council has laid out its plans to reach net zero by 2043, including improvements to social housing and responses to weather emergencies like flooding.

Wandsworth council’s Environment Committee looked over Wandsworth Environment and Sustainability Strategy (WESS) during a meeting yesterday to assess its progress and agree on new priorities for 2025.

Committee members heard how key milestones have been met, such as a 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from the council’s new waste collection fleet and food waste collections now reaching 72,000 homes, as part of the Cleaner Borough Plan.

In 2024, 110 additional bikehangar spaces were installed across the borough, bringing the total to more than 1,300 as part of London’s largest bikehangar installation programme.

The microgrants scheme has also provided £15,000 in funding for community projects to help achieve the net zero target. The council have agreed to expand the scheme for a further three years, with £23,000 funding per year, including ring fenced funding for schools.

Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We have already achieved a lot and as we inch closer to 2043, our plans for the upcoming year show no signs of slowing down.”

Almost half of the borough’s carbon emissions come from people’s homes, with around 44 per cent scoring low when it comes to energy efficiency, the council said.

In response, the local authority will be improving their social housing stock to make the buildings more energy efficient.

Improving the boroughs climate response to measure emergencies like flooding is another key focus.

This will include additional training for staff, reviewing potential risk areas and informing residents of things they can do now to protect themselves.

The council is urging residents to join its next  Wandsworth Sustainability Network meeting on March 18, to find out more about plans for Wandsworth and share their views.

Pictured top: In 2024, 110 additional bikehangar spaces were installed across Wandsworth to promote active travel (Picture: Wandsworth council)