Sustainability is one of our top priorities, and we are committed to helping reduce our carbon footprint in any way we can. We have recently commissioned the production of a full carbon audit. This sets out the total level of carbon emissions produced by our activities and identifies how much carbon is emitted from each source. This has allowed us to identify where the most savings can be made.

Using this data, we are currently producing a series of delivery plans which will break down our journey to carbon neutrality into a series of specific stages. Once we have finalised these delivery plans, they will be made available to the public.

Sustainable communities can be described as places where:

• the needs of everyone in the community are met and people feel safe, healthy and ultimately happy
• our environment is appreciated, protected and enhanced and damage to the environment is minimised
• our economy is vibrant, employment opportunities are improved and our working lives are more rewarding 

Creating a Sustainable Society involves:

Protecting and Enhancing the Environment

• use energy, water and other natural resources efficiently and with care
• minimise waste, then re-use or recover it through recycling, composting or energy recovery, and finally sustainably dispose of what is left
• limit pollution to levels which do not damage natural systems
• value and protect the diversity of nature

Meeting Social Needs

• create and enhance places, spaces and buildings which work well, wear well and look good
• make settlement 'human' in scale and form
• value and protect diversity and local distinctiveness and strengthen local community and cultural identity
• protect human health and amenity through safe, clean and pleasant environments
• emphasise health service prevention action as well as cure
• ensure access to good food, water, housing and fuel at a reasonable cost
• meet local needs locally wherever possible
• maximise everyone's access to the skills and knowledge needed to play a full part in society
• empower all sections of the community to participate in decision-making and consider the social and community aspects of decisions

Promoting Economic Success

• create a vibrant local economy that gives access to satisfying and rewarding work without damage to the local, national or global environment
• value unpaid work
• encourage necessary access to facilities, services, goods and other people in ways which make less use of the car and minimise impacts on the environment
• make opportunities for culture, leisure and recreation readily available to all