Funding to help villages toward net zero targets

Projects such as installing wind turbines could be helped by the new grants

Funding is being made available to help rural communities to become low carbon and more resilient to the effects of climate change.

The Net Zero Villages grant scheme offers a total funding pot of just over £362,000 and has been created by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

It is being funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and will offer grants ranging from £20,000 to £100,000 to support "transformative, community-led projects".

Eligible projects would include renewable energy and sustainable transport schemes, and applications must be made by 26 January.

The grant scheme is designed to help villages to take "meaningful steps towards reaching net zero and securing a more sustainable future", the council said.

It will fund capital projects under the following themes:

• energy efficiency and generation - examples include installing insulation, LED lighting, solar panels, wind turbines, or battery storage for renewable energy

• low carbon transport - initiatives such as community-run electric shuttle buses or other sustainable transport solutions

• nature-based solutions - projects such as green roofs, walls or tree planting to cool and enhance community spaces

The council said eligible projects must improve community assets and reduce carbon emissions, such as retrofitting village halls, enhancing public transport access, or implementing green infrastructure.

The grant is open to community groups, parish councils, and rural businesses across South Cambridgeshire.

Eligible areas include villages outside the Cambridge built-up area, but more urban areas such as Milton, Histon, Impington, and Teversham are not eligible for the funding.

Brian Milnes, the council's Liberal Democrat cabinet member for the environment, described the scheme as "a fantastic opportunity to transform our district's villages into greener, cleaner, and more sustainable communities".

"By securing funding through this scheme, you can make a lasting impact and invest in the future of your community," he said.

More details on the scheme, workshops and eligibility criteria is on the council's website.