Natural Environment, Climate and Ecology Action Plan 2023 to 2025

Last updated 24 January 2024

Enabling Programme

E1 

Action 

Strengthen the structures and mandate for our operational and facilitation programmes, including integrating decision-making across structures (e.g., with the Highways Asset Risk and Programme Board).

Mission 

All

E2

Action 

Develop and embed impact and appraisal tools for use in key projects, programmes and strategies

Mission 

All

E3

Action 

Embed climate, nature and resilience in our key corporate and place strategies & plans (such as our new Local Plan, Local Transport Plan, asset management approach, housing strategy etc.)

Mission 

All

E4

Action 

Lobby and work with government, regulators and other key stakeholders through engagement, consultations and forums on barriers, powers, resourcing, enforcement and national ambition (e.g., on offshore wind, grid infrastructure, public transport, gigabit broadband etc.)

Mission 

All

E5

Action 

Enable revenue and capital resource for delivery – including through core resourcing, our capital programme, invest-to save, relevant developer contributions, external grant funding, inclusion in investment prospectuses, revenue generation, catalysing private finance and crowdfunding, and encouraging the uptake of funding by other local stakeholders.

Mission 

All

E6

Action 

Further embed climate, nature and resilience in our commissioning and procurement processes to cut the footprint of suppliers and encourage our purchase of more sustainable goods and services (e.g., energy efficient equipment, or sustainable food produce and equipment through catering services and contracts)

Mission 

All

E7

Action 

Develop and support local external relationships and partnerships to build support, collaborate and influence local stakeholders (e.g., our Local Nature Partnership, Local Enterprise Partnership, Western Gateway STB, Dorset Coast Forum, Dorset Catchment Partnerships, our Urban Heath Partnership, utilities, regulators and enforcement agencies).

Mission 

All

E8

Action 

Support our Town and Parish Councils and help to encourage and facilitate community-led action

Mission 

All

E9

Action 

Develop and deliver external-facing communications, engagement, consultation, and promotional campaigns for each mission, in order to share accessible information and guidance, toolkits, and best practice case studies for our residents, Town & Parish Councils, schools, businesses and land managers.

Mission 

All

E10 

Action 

Improve the awareness, engagement and knowledge of our members, employees and service providers through campaigns, briefings, training and green champions

Mission 

All

E11

Action 

Strengthen our data collection, monitoring and reporting to better capture the Council and County footprint and our progress for climate, nature and resilience; and enable key strategic research on our baseline, scenario modelling, risk areas, pressures, or opportunities (including mapping).

Mission 

All

Operational Programme (Direct)

O1

Action 

Identify and implement further opportunities on the Council estate (including employment land and premises like Dorset Innovation Park) for small- and large-scale renewable deployment and flexibility measures to meet council demand

Mission and sub-objective 

1.1. Renewable Generation: Expand renewables on our estate

O2

Action 

Identify and implement further opportunities on the Council estate (including employment land & premises like Dorset Innovation Park) for heat decarbonisation or trialing

Mission and sub-objective 

2.1. Heat: Decarbonise heating on our estate

O3

Action 

Identify and implement further opportunities on the Council estate (including employment land and premises like Dorset Innovation Park) for heat and water efficiency and demand-reduction measures (including expanding centralised Energy Management Systems and reviewing operational controls on energy using equipment).

Mission and sub-objective 

3.1. Energy & Water Efficiency: Identify and implement opportunities on our estate.

O4

Action 

Further improve the energy efficiency of streetlighting, bollards and signals through technology and management

Mission and sub-objective 

3.2. Energy & Water Efficiency: Further invest in energy efficient upgrades for streetlighting, bollards and signals

O5

Action 

Establish a policy to ensure all new buildings that Dorset Council has direct influence over are zero-carbon (i.e., a negative BER)

Mission and sub-objective 

5.1. Development: Encourage net zero new builds

O6

Action 

Promote the use of digital technology within the Dorset Council workplace to reduce the need to travel and implement a new council travel plan to reduce the impact of staff commuting and business travel.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.2. Transport: Enable modal shift and cut the need to travel for personal, commuting, business and logistics journeys

O7

Action 

Develop schemes and signposting on support for Council employees.

Mission and sub-objective 

2.3. Heat: Extend our retrofit advice & support offer

3.3. Energy & Water Efficiency: Promote, deliver and enforce energy and water efficiency measures and behaviours.

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

O8

Action 

Identify and implement opportunities for EV charging infrastructure on the Council estate and investigate alternative fuel options.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

O9

Action 

Continue our fleet replacement programme by introducing further electric and alternative-fueled vehicles and optimise routes.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

O10

Action 

Upskill Dorset Highways employees, utilising government capacity funding and participation in centres of excellence development programmes.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

O11

Action 

Use innovative low energy road surfacing materials and processes.

Mission and sub-objective 

5.2. Development: Promote sustainable materials use & waste management

O12

Action 

Become a low waste council and move towards a more circular economy by reviewing our waste reduction policies, minimising single use products, cutting food waste, reuse and refurbishment of all furniture and IT equipment, and promoting reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling of products within the organisation (e.g., through policy, communications and procurement).

Mission and sub-objective 

6.1. Waste: Become a low waste Council by 2040

O13

Action 

Understand the baseline impacts from the council’s use of IT and develop a plan to reduce them, including remanufacture, reuse and refurbishment options.

Mission and sub-objective 

3.1. Energy & Water Efficiency: Identify and implement opportunities on our estate

O14

Action 

Develop and deliver a strategic approach for the design, delivery and monitoring for species and pollution mitigation (e.g., nitrates and heathland), Biodiversity Net Gain, carbon sequestration and public greenspace - including for effective use of developer contributions.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.1. Nature: Create and embed a Local Nature Recovery Strategy

8.2. Nature: Take action on own estate

O15

Action 

Identify and deliver opportunities on our own land to enhance ecosystem functioning, boost biodiversity and nature-based solutions for climate and resilience, reduce our use of chemical inputs, and ensure appropriate storage of hazardous materials.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.2. Nature: Take action on own estate

O16

Action 

Enhance ecosystem functioning on our Council Farm estate by working with tenants to encourage more low carbon and nature-positive land and water management (e.g., by reducing fertiliser use).

Mission and sub-objective 

7.1. Food: Transition our County Farms estate to low-emission and nature-positive food production

8.2. Nature: Take action on own estate

O17

Action 

Enhance the design and management of highways and green spaces for climate, biodiversity net gain and resilience (e.g., by expanding cut & collect or reviewing chemical use and electrifying equipment).

Mission and sub-objective 

8.2. Nature: Take action on own estate

O18

Action 

Further decarbonise the Dorset Council pension scheme

Mission and sub-objective 

All

O19

Action

Assess the Council's vulnerability to climate change

Mission and sub-objective 

9.1. Resilience: Assess our vulnerability

O20

Action 

Mainstream climate risks in our risk-management, decision-making, wider policy and business continuity arrangement.

Mission and sub-objective 

9.2. Resilience: Mainstream

 

 

Facilitation Programme (Indirect & Influence)

F1

Action 

Seek resource to continue the Low Carbon Dorset programme to promote and bolster advice on deployment in Dorset.

Mission and sub-objective 

1.3. Renewable Generation: Extend Low Carbon Dorset

2.3. Heat: Extend our retrofit advice & support offer

F2

Action 

Encourage and enable community-led deployment.

Mission and sub-objective 

1.3. Renewable Generation: Extend Low Carbon Dorset

F3

Action 

Create a Local Area Energy Plan with key partners..

Mission and sub-objective 

1.4. Renewable Generation: Influence strategic energy planning for a locally efficient and responsive grid.

F4

Action 

Research opportunities for large-scale installation of low carbon heating and hydrogen generation and seek opportunities to pilot and test deployment (e.g., in social housing).

Mission and sub-objective 

2.2. Heat: Identify opportunities in wider Dorset.

F5

Action 

Further assist residents to decarbonise heating and improve energy efficiency through the Healthy Homes Dorset Scheme and targeted communications campaigns.

Mission and sub-objective 

2.3. Heat: Extend our retrofit advice & support offer

3.3. Energy & Water Efficiency: Promote, deliver and enforce energy and water efficiency measures and behaviours

F6

Action 

Enforce minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rental sector (with a focus on EPC certificates E & F without exemptions).

Mission and sub-objective 

3.3. Energy & Water Efficiency: Promote, deliver and enforce energy and water efficiency measures and behaviours. 

F7

Action 

Work in partnership (e.g., with Registered Social Landlords or schools) to develop, deliver, trial and pilot generation, efficiency improvements, and innovative low carbon techniques (e.g., off-site manufacturing) for Dorset’s buildings – including hard-to-treat properties (e.g., those in conservation areas and listed buildings).

Mission and sub-objective 

3.3. Energy & Water Efficiency: Promote, deliver and enforce energy and water efficiency measures and behaviours.

2.2. Heat: Identify opportunities in wider Dorset

F8

Action 

Liaise with water companies to identify and eliminate water leaks on our estate and in Dorset.

Mission and sub-objective 

3.3. Energy & Water Efficiency: Promote, deliver and enforce energy and water efficiency measures and behaviours

F9

Action 

Prepare a new vision-led (decide and provide) joint Local Transport Plan (including a local 2050 net zero transport pathway) and supporting strategies, aligned with the Local Plan and regional priorities.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.3. Transport: Embed infrastructure provision and modal shift in policy and strategy.

F10

Action 

Improve the user experience by investing in active travel, public transport, shared mobility and integrated multi-modal services.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.2. Transport: Enable modal shift and cut the need to travel for personal, commuting, business and logistics journeys.

F11

Action 

Deliver campaigns and public health initiatives that engage, support, and influence to increase active travel, reduce the need to travel, and achieve other sustainable outcomes.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.2. Transport: Enable modal shift and cut the need to travel for personal, commuting, business and logistics journeys

F12

Action 

Embrace digital alternatives to travel and future mobility solutions that provide clear information across a range of travel modes and promote use of the most sustainable travel options.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.2. Transport: Enable modal shift and cut the need to travel for personal, commuting, business and logistics journeys.

F13

Action 

Continue to support greater deployment and strengthening of high-speed broadband/ ICT infrastructure in Dorset.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.2. Transport: Enable modal shift and cut the need to travel for personal, commuting, business and logistics journeys

F14

Action 

Deliver accelerated public EV charge-point deployment to create an accessible network across all of Dorset through the LEVI pilot and private sector investment, and seek funding to further expand EV and alternative fuel infrastructure

Mission and sub-objective 

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

F15

Action 

Explore means of encouraging ULEVs through licensing.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

F16

Action 

Ensure our rights of way network is promoted and maintained to a high standard and increase the provision of off-road routes.

Mission and sub-objective 

4.2. Transport: Enable modal shift and cut the need to travel for personal, commuting, business and logistics journeys

F17

Action 

Support local implementation of evolving regulations and standards for new low carbon technology – making Dorset a safe place to take advantage of green tech and giving public assurance around standards and safety.

Mission and sub-objective 

1.2. Renewable Generation: Enable wider deployment.

2.3. Heat: Extend our retrofit advice & support offer

4.1. Transport: Accelerate electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment

F18

Action 

Undertake research and mapping to enable planning policy in support of this strategy (e.g., on suitable renewables deployment sites, grid constraints, heat mapping, flood and erosion risks etc.)

Mission and sub-objective 

1.2. Renewable Generation: Enable wider deployment through planning.

2.4. Heat: Enable deployment for new builds through planning.

4.3. Transport: Embed infrastructure provision and modal shift in policy and strategy.

5.1. Development: Encourage net zero new builds.

5.2. Development: Promote sustainable materials use & waste management.

5.3. Development: Protect and enhance our ecological network.

5.4. Development: Minimise climate risks.

F19

Action 

Create a new Local Plan that ensures high standards of design, siting and construction of developments and effectively supports this strategy (including identifying renewable deployment sites and integrating with the Local Transport Plan on sustainable travel).

Mission and sub-objective 

1.2. Renewable Generation: Enable wider deployment through planning.

2.4. Heat: Enable deployment for new builds through planning.

4.3. Transport: Embed infrastructure provision and modal shift in policy and strategy.

5.1. Development: Encourage net zero new builds.

5.2. Development: Promote sustainable materials use & waste management.

5.3. Development: Protect and enhance our ecological network.

5.4. Development: Minimise climate risks.

7.3. Food: Identify and implement opportunities to support more community growing.

8.1. Nature: Create and embed a Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

9.2. Resilience: Mainstream adaptation in our decision-making, wider policy and business continuity arrangements

F20

Action 

Create and adopt planning guidance, tools, codes, and training to further support this strategy (e.g., on net zero homes standards, sustainable construction and materials use, walking and cycling, parking standards, ULEVs, travel plans, conservation-sensitive measures or sustainable drainage systems (SUDs.)

Mission and sub-objective 

1.2. Renewable Generation: Enable wider deployment through planning.

2.4. Heat: Enable deployment for new builds through planning.

4.3. Transport: Embed infrastructure provision and modal shift in policy and strategy.

5.1. Development: Encourage net zero new builds.

5.2. Development: Promote sustainable materials use & waste management.

5.3. Development: Protect and enhance our ecological network.

5.4. Development: Minimise climate risks.

8.1. Nature: Create and embed a Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

9.2. Resilience: Mainstream adaptation in our decision-making, wider policy and business continuity.

F21

Action 

Investigate and trial tools or methods on embodied carbon and whole-life costing.

Mission and sub-objective 

5.1. Development: Encourage net zero new builds.

F22

Action 

Ensure that applications fully consider climate, nature and resilience, and that there is effective internal consultation for their evaluation (e.g., with sustainability, waste and green infrastructure teams).

Mission and sub-objective 

5.1. Development: Encourage net zero new builds.

5.2. Development: Promote sustainable materials use & waste management.

5.3. Development: Protect and enhance our ecological network.

5.4. Minimise climate risks

F23

Action 

Revise and deliver the Dorset Municipal Waste Management Strategy to align to the Environment Act, and detail how we will continue to minimise waste, maximise recycling and embed a circular economy within Dorset (through policy, infrastructure, contractual and service requirements).

Mission and sub-objective 

6.2. Waste: Manage Dorset’s waste at the highest feasible level of the waste hierarchy.

6.3. Waste: Transition towards a circular Dorset.

F24

Action 

Deliver education/awareness projects and campaigns to encourage residents, businesses and schools to reduce, reuse and recycle waste and litter (e.g., on reusable nappies, composting, food waste, littering, and ‘right stuff in the right bin’).

Mission and sub-objective 

6.2. Waste: Manage Dorset’s waste at the highest feasible level of the waste hierarchy.

7.4. Food: Support sustainable diets and the cutting of food waste

F25

Action 

Support sourcing of local, nature positive, low carbon food produce by enabling community growing (e.g., orchards and allotments) and encouraging and enabling the retail of local produce.

Mission and sub-objective 

7.3. Food: Identify and implement opportunities to support more community growing.

7.4. Food: Support sustainable diets and the cutting of food waste.

F26

Action 

Promote nature-positive, low carbon farming, land and water management (e.g., by encouraging agri-environment scheme uptake, clustering, whole-farm advice, and facilitating private green finance opportunities).

Mission and sub-objective 

7.2. Food: Facilitate low-emission and nature-positive agri-fisheries practices in Dorset.

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F27

Action 

Promote positive ecosystem-based fisheries management and sustainable aquiculture.

Mission and sub-objective 

7.2. Food: Facilitate low-emission and nature-positive agri-fisheries practices in Dorset.

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F28

Action 

Develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.1. Nature: Create and embed a Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

F29 

Action 

Explore the potential for commercial carbon sequestration.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F30 

Action 

Promote and create opportunities for nature-based health & wellbeing activities, including with Children's and Adult's Services.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F31

Action 

Engage and work with the Environment Agency, Police and other regulatory enforcement bodies to tackle pollutant risks and waste crime.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F32

Action 

Develop and implement an Air Quality Strategy for Dorse

Mission and sub-objective 

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F33

Action 

Assess Dorset’s vulnerability to climate change.

Mission and sub-objective 

8.3. Nature: Enable wider delivery

F34

Action 

Develop a partnership approach for Dorset-wide adaptation, linking with relevant structures and partners (like our Risk Management Authorities and Local Resilience Forum), and aligning with existing local flood and shoreline management approaches.

Mission and sub-objective 

9.1. Resilience: Develop a partnership approach

F35

Action 

Work with partners to support the provision of local green education and skills training

Mission and sub-objective 

All missions

F36

Action 

Promote Dorset's green economy and work with partners to attract investment, including developing Dorset Innovation Park as a centre of excellence and making Dorset a low-carbon tourism destination.

Mission and sub-objective 

All missions