Progress updates
Energy efficiency
To reduce the demand for energy, improving the efficiency of our buildings continues to be a priority, delivering co‑benefits such as lower energy costs and improved comfort.
2025/26 updates:
- Installed over 1,500 energy efficiency measures in Council homes, including 406 roof insulation, 254 cavity wall, and 879 high efficiency boiler replacements.
- Secured Warm Homes Local Grant funding to help almost 250 homeowners with retrofit surveys and install efficiency measures to 75 homes.
- Supported North East Warm Homes, which provided almost 200 North Tyneside homeowners with advice to install efficiency measures.
Power and heat
We continue to explore opportunities to generate renewable heat and power to increase the availability and security of the energy we depend on, reduce energy costs, and lower carbon emissions.
2025/26 updates:
- Secured £2.9m Salix funding to install a solar PV array at the Council’s main offices.
- Completed renewable technology installations at Tynemouth Pool, White Swan Centre, and North Shields Community Hub
- Entered the final phase of converting all North Tyneside street lighting to LED, leading to a 74% reduction in energy use.
Travel and transport
Reducing vehicle emissions and accelerating the transition to low carbon transport is integral to decarbonisation, improving air quality and public health.
2025/26 updates:
- Completed the Sea Front Sustainable Route, a walking, wheeling and cycling link along the length of North Tyneside’s coast between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, delivered with external funding in partnership with Active Travel England, Sustrans and Capita.
- Northumberland Park rail station opened as part of the Northumberland Line, a major scheme promoted by Northumberland County Council and supported by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and the Authority
- Installed electric vehicle chargepoints in several public car parks including Park Road car park, Whitley Bay, and John Willie Sams Centre car park, Dudley
Waste, recycling, and reuse
The Council prioritises the prevention and reuse of waste wherever possible, delivering co-benefits such as cost savings, reduced environmental impact, and opportunities for local skills development.
2025/26 updates:
- Opened Renew North Tyneside in partnership with Suez and North Tyneside Big Local – a reuse shop which diverts household items from waste and sells them at affordable prices.
- Secured National Lottery funding to set up the Bike Hub, where over 150 bikes donated to the HWRC were checked, refurbished, and redistributed back into the community.
- Established Recharge, a trial electricals collection service which transported over 1,100 household electricals from kerbside to a community repairs club for repair and redistribution.
Economy and skills
Our net zero actions can boost the Borough’s economy by creating new green jobs, supporting sustainable businesses, and equipping communities with valuable skills in renewable technologies.
2025/26 updates:
- Partnered with Newcastle College and Shepherd Offshore to secure £8.9 million North East Innovation Zone funding for the expansion of the Energy Academy in Wallsend. The investment will nearly triple the Academy’s capacity, enabling it to train around 1,000 students per year by Year 5.
- Supported regional Green Skills Bootcamps which help local people find employment in growing industries, such as retrofit and wind energy.
- Helped deliver the BEST programme, supporting local businesses to save energy and cut costs through energy efficiency guidance and grants.
- Delivered Jobs on the Tyne careers event with key employers in the renewables and green energy sector (including Smulders and Kinewell) with over 300 residents in attendance.
- Introduced the Green Award at the North Tyneside Business Awards, recognising local businesses reducing their environmental impact
Nature and biodiversity
Protecting and enhancing local habitats supports biodiversity, improves community wellbeing, and makes our Borough a nicer place to live, work, and visit.
2025/26 updates:
- Secured £77.6k of grant funding to plant and maintain 9 hectares of new trees, in partnership with the North East Community Forest.
- Supported the creation of the North of Tyne Local Nature Recovery Strategy which aims to protect natural habitats and help biodiversity thrive.
Collaboration and engagement
We work with residents, businesses and third sector organisations to enable and support Borough-wide climate action.
2025/26 updates:
- The Council’s Carbon Net Zero Board continues to drive climate action across 12 workstreams, including Housing, Travel, Public Buildings, and Fleet. Regular ‘deep dives’ into specific topics have enabled more detailed explorations of themes such as nature-based solutions, electric vehicles, and public health.
- The Borough Climate Board focuses on commercial and industrial related emissions and brings together senior representatives from the public and private sector who have a shared goal of decarbonising their operations and the Borough.
- Residents, local businesses, and charities helped shape the Council’s first Climate Adaptation Plan for North Tyneside. Online surveys and in-person workshops provided feedback on local risks, dependencies, and priorities relating to extreme weather.