Waterloo and South Bank launch Net Zero 2030 Strategy

Investment in a greener, fairer neighbourhood will be delivered through direct economic investment, community initiatives, and supportive policy frameworks.

Lambeth Council, SoWN (South Bank & Waterloo Neighbours), South Bank & Waterloo Partnership, South Bank BID, and WeAreWaterloo BID launched a Strategy and Action Plan entitled Net Zero for Waterloo and South Bank: Building a Greener and Fairer Future Neighbourhood at an event in St John’s Church, Waterloo, last night.

Net Zero for Waterloo and South Bank: Building a Greener and Fairer Future Neighbourhood sets out the collective ambition and commitment of businesses, organisations, and residential groups across Waterloo and South Bank to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, building on the ambitions of the borough and the Mayor of London at a hyperlocal and neighbourhood level.

The strategy and action plan, which has been created in collaboration with business and residential communities, communicates a vision for the whole area, supplemented by projects, in line with the GLA’s 5 sectoral themes and priorities set out in their Future Neighbourhoods programme:

1. Retrofitting of homes, commercial and public buildings
2. Creating a decarbonised, smart and integrated energy system
3. Improving air quality and creating zero-emission zones
4. Climate-adapted, resilient and green neighbourhoods
5. Zero waste, circular economy

The recommendations were produced by leading sustainability consultants, Anthesis, who combined global expertise and local consultation to outline first steps to reaching net zero by 2030. The action plan features main objectives, proposed projects and creative ideas for further scoping, at a range of scales and budgets, for both public and private sector delivery.

Projects already underway include:

1. Lower Marsh timed closure following a trial, traffic restrictions have been made permanent, creating a permanent timed closure zone on Lower Marsh. This has reduced vehicle journeys by 70%.
2. Sustainable Ventures 45,000 sq ft of workspace is being delivered for cleantech businesses in SE1, with £1.45m in support from Lambeth’s Future Workspace Fund, creating the largest cluster of green economy businesses in Europe.
3. St Thomas’ Hospital river freight pilot is underway exploring how deliveries to the hospital via the river can support the organisations’ sustainability targets
4. The National Theatre is working to implement the Theatre Green Book standards across its productions, operations and buildings, with the aim to embed sustainable practice across all its operations.
5. St John’s Church recently completed a £5.5m renovation including retrofit and the installation of 80 solar panels on its Grade II listed roof, making it one of London’s most sustainable historic landmarks.

Funding was awarded to Lambeth Council following an application to the  Mayor of London’s Future Neighbourhoods 2030 programme which was supported by partners across the area and was used to develop the strategy and action plan.

The Waterloo and South Bank specific net zero strategy ties into the council’s borough-wide focus on net zero and ensuring resilience against the increasing challenges we are facing with climate change. This includes the borough-wide Climate Action Plan and an upcoming borough-wide strategy to support growth in the low-carbon sector which will be published later this year.

Councillor Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council said:

“This initiative is a great example of institutions, public and private sector, businesses large and small and community organisations coming together to tackle the huge global, national and local challenge of the climate emergency. I am excited to witness collaboration and innovation in action across Waterloo and South Bank to ensure its future as a prosperous, fair, and climate-resilient neighbourhood in the borough of Lambeth.”

Giles Goddard, Vicar of St John’s and Chair of SoWN said:

“This is an important milestone in our journey towards a carbon-zero neighbourhood for our own area and London at large. Climate change disproportionately affects those who are in poverty. It is key that local communities are right at the heart of our net zero strategies, alongside businesses and policymakers.  Our hope is that South Bank and Waterloo will become a flagship for climate-adapted and resilient future neighbourhoods worldwide.”

Nic Durston, Chief Executive of South Bank BID and South Bank Employers’ Group said:

“The launch of this strategy  and action marks a firm commitment by Waterloo and South Bank organisations to spearhead the area’s transition to net zero, creating a blueprint for district-wide collaboration and partnership.  This builds on many years of successful partnership working across business, residents, community groups, and statutory bodies.”

The launch event for Net Zero for Waterloo and South Bank:  Building a Greener and Fairer Future Neighbourhood (24 May) featured Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council, Catherine Barber, the Greater London Authority’s Assistant Director of Environment and Energy, and Giles Goddard, Vicar of St John’s, and Chair of South Bank & Waterloo Neighbours (SoWN) as well as a panel discussion entitled “Commerce, culture and community: Achieving net zero by 2030”. The panel featured Warren Forsyth, Director of Estates at Southbank Centre; Cllr Claire Holland; Daniela Montaño, Senior Venture Associate at Sustainable Ventures; and Vitòria Sanvicente, Co-owner of Candiero.

A summary of the strategy and action plan Net Zero for Waterloo and South Bank: A Fairer, greener Future Neighbourhood by 2030 is available to download here.

The full strategy is available to download here.