Bristol was the first city in the UK to declare a climate emergency and has set an ambition to be carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030. This will require everyone to take action to reduce their environmental impact. Building on our existing work creating the Easton and Lawrence Hill Community Climate Action Plan in 2021, Eastside Community Trust has been funded to explore what local projects to tackle climate change and energy could look like. This funding has come to Bristol from Innovate UK and we are one of three community organisations selected to participate.
We have been working with Knowle West Media Centre and Southmead Development Trust alongside Bristol City Council and Centre for Sustainable Energy to design potential projects which could suit our communities. By October 2025, any viable projects will be added to a community investment plan, and we will then work with Bristol and Bath Regional Capital to source financing.
What have we done so far?
Bottom: Aileen Smart; Vic Wakefield-Jarrett
Employed three community researchers
Natalie Hyacinth, Ruth Nortey and Aileen Smart have joined us to work alongside Vic to help research the community’s appetite and ability for change.
Explored what is possible
Interviewed local residents and environmental professionals and researched community projects elsewhere in the country to understand what is possible
Hosted three climate conversation events
Ruth and Natalie organised three busy events at Easton Community Centre:
Eco home renovation with speakers George from Retrofit West and local resident Hugo who has rennovated their home
Community owned solar power with guest speaker Helen from Bristol Energy Cooperative
Wildlife friendly streets with guest speaker Estelle from Camerton Road Planter Project
Online resident survey
We have delivered 4000 leaflets about the project asking residents to complete an online survey on their views and ideas about energy. Aileen has been busy analysing the results:
- Most residents are keen to have more insulation and draught-proofing in their homes. Challenges raised included finding time to organise it, finding trusted traders, and technical constraints with Victorian terraced buildings.
- On heating and power, 19% of respondents said they would be happy to have an air source heat pump, with a further 8% wanting more information. 26% would like solar panels, with a further 12% wanting more information. Issues raised were building suitability, space, noise, aftercare, efficiency and embodied carbon of the products.
- There was wide support for training in DIY Skills and draught-proofing
- Most respondents to the survey owned their own home, with those who lived in rented accommodation saw their tenure as a barrier to any changes happening. We know this isn’t a representative sample so we need to do more to engage residents who rent their home, and work with landlords to ensure they can make these changes.
Pilot project ideas
Vic has been working up pilot project ideas with citywide partners. Our emerging top three ideas are:
Making a Victorian terraced street climate friendly
- Decarbonising home heating (reducing energy use through insulation and options for generating heat through individual air source heat pumps, or street level shared ground source heat loops).
- Find the most efficient way to install solar panels on all suitable roofs.
- Tackling surface flooding by reducing rain flow which ends up in the street through individual rainwater gardens and street planters or trees where requested.
- Providing secure cycle parking
Creating a Retrofit Skills agency
- Train local people in skills like draught proofing and managing damp and ventilation in a way that is suitable for the local housing stock.
- Involve tradespeople representative of the local population including by ethnicity and gender.
- Investigate the best governance model for an agency.
- Explore how householders and tradespeople can use the service for reasonably priced work and fair wages.
Electric Vehicle Charging Offer
- What are the opportunities for charging electric cars in a crowded urban area?
- Could charging points be run for public benefit?
- How could the car club model be changed to work for more people?
- How can we have secure and safe charging for electric bike batteries, especially for those in high rise blocks?
Next steps…
Eastside Community Trust will be working to refine our project ideas, get expert advice, and test the local appetite for them before working up a business plan.
If you live locally, please consider becoming a member of Eastside Community Trust to get involved.
Would you like to see any of this on your street?
Something you don’t like the sound of?
Want to be part of an Eastside Members Environment Action Group?
Let us know! Email your thoughts to vic@upourstreet.org.uk or message or call Vic on 07539309343
