Govanhill selected as Glasgow’s first Net Zero Neighbourhood
Glasgow City Council and The Cities Commission for Climate Investment have teamed up. Their ambition? To transform Govanhill into Glasgow’s premiere Net Zero Neighbourhood. We took a closer look at their plans.
Climate justice grafitti, photo by Iain McLellan
By James McAleer | Photo by Ian McLellan
Govanhill is on the road – or rather the cycle lane – to becoming Glasgow’s first Net Zero Neighbourhood, through an ambitious City Council initiative in partnership with 3Ci – The Cities Commission for Climate Investment. 3Ci and the council have announced the next stage in development work as they seek to transform infrastructure, transport and waste management in our neighbourhood.
Govanhill’s high volume of green space, most notably Queen’s Park, its dense and varied infrastructure, and demand for housing regeneration, all contributed to its selection as a Net Zero Neighbourhood. Already a strategic focus for housing regeneration in the city, the council hope that they can fold this ambition in with their Net Zero goals; success would surely represent a coup.
What does this mean on the ground? All going well, cycle infrastructure, retrofitting, and heat pumps seem to be likely investments, alongside projects which tackle food waste.
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Right now, however, the council and 3Ci are still in the case-building stage. The final proposal will integrate local Net Zero projects into a cohesive neighbourhood plan, which would, all going well, persuade banks, businesses, and other investors to funnel their cash this way. 3Ci would then provide technical assistance and aid capacity building to ensure these projects meet the grade.
We’ve covered some local Net Zero projects on our website and in various issues of the magazine, from retrofitting to food redistribution. Certainly, there is demand in this neighbourhood for positive climate action, and a fairly active grassroots sector working energetically toward net zero on a local level. It’s this energy which Glasgow City Council’s formal partnership with 3Ci will seek to tap into; whether they can succeed and supercharge these, or similar, projects, remains to be seen.
Read more: How can tenement flat owners take on retrofitting their homes?
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "Innovative approaches to Net Zero can make an incredible impact on the lives of residents in neighbourhoods like Govanhill. We are firmly committed to this next phase of work with 3Ci to explore new opportunities around heating, retrofitting and reducing carbon emissions and the benefits these bring to the everyday lives of citizens."
Steve Turner, Director of 3Ci, said: "When it comes to exploring new paths to Net Zero, Glasgow has been a UK-leading innovator from the start. Their commitment to further developing Govanhill as a pilot case for Net Zero investment showcases the strength and determination of Glasgow City Council to reach their decarbonisation targets."