This report provides a quarterly update on Devon County Council’s (DCC’s) corporate Environmental Performance programme that implements the Environmental Policy. The report is split into topics based on relevant plans and projects. This report provides a short update on the individual projects we are running to improve environmental performance.
Period
Quarter 4: Jan 2026 – Mar 2026 (inclusive)
Project Colour Key
Each project is assigned a colour to indicate its current status. The key is as follows:
Green 🟢– Project is performing well. There may be minor issues that do not affect project viability or timescales significantly.
Amber 🟠 – Issues have arisen that affect the time, cost or scope of the project. However, these can be dealt with by the Environmental Performance Management Group. The Environmental Performance Board should be notified.
Red 🔴 – Significant issues that cannot be handled solely by the Environmental Performance Management Group. The Environmental Performance Board must be engaged to assess the situation.
Purple 🟣 – Project has been put on hold or is no longer needed.
1. Countryside, Coast and Heritage Strategy and Plan, 2024
Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and statutory duty [Green 🟢]
The public consultation period on the LNRS finished in November. The next step is for the constituent local authorities to adopt the Strategy and this is expected to be complete by the end of March 2026.
DCC has a statutory duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity and an obligation to report on action to Defra by March 2026. A paper went to Cabinet and covers the wide range of work underway at DCC. See here for the full report – Biodiversity Duty – Environment
Swift project [Green 🟢]
Following Jaqui Hodgson’s motion at Council, we have purchased swift, house sparrow, bat and house martin boxes. They are being put up as and when maintenance work is being carried out and scaffolding is up. The first ones were fitted on the cottages at County Hall.
Knowledge sharing [Amber 🟠]
We have been given access to the Eco-Schools carbon footprint data for schools, which then leads into a carbon reduction plan. DCC continues to work closely with other partners to support schools to meet the Department of Education’s expectations. There will be another sustainability conference for Devon school teachers in 2026 to provide support and inspiration for schools.
Tree planting [Green 🟢]
We have created DCC’s and the South West’s first tree equity report – identifying relevant urban tree planting sites using multiple socio-environmental metrics such as deprivation, air pollution, flood potential, access to schools and hospitals.
We have supported 14 woodland creation projects across the county through design, species selection and production of relevant mapping, with an estimate of 243 hectares of new woodland if the land-owners are successful in their bids.
Improved Impact Assessment Tool [Purple 🟣]
It was proposed to update and improve the impact assessment tool for SLG and Cabinet papers, which covers EDI, environmental and social issues. The Strategic Office began the project and produced a new version, which was trialled by some staff. However, due to other priorities, this project is not proceeding. It will be critical to ensure that a process is built into the governance of the new unitary authority/ies.
2. Carbon Reduction Plan 2024-2027
School transport project [Amber 🟠]
Emissions associated with school transport are now the single biggest contribution to DCC’s carbon footprint. We are looking to scope how to best tackle these emissions with Sustrans. We aim to support more safe routes and to encourage active travel.
Energy management retrofit [Green 🟢]
Since October 2025, we now have direct access to energy consumption data for our corporate properties and this allows us to use the data to manage energy consumption, as we can set up reports and alerts.
Corporate building retrofit [Green 🟢]
Target: Carry out 3-4 energy assessments per year and complete 10 more building retrofits by 2030/31
We have Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant for the capital to retrofit 3 buildings, which are due for completion this year.
Norse has delivered 4 heat decarbonisation plans for the next priority corporate buildings and we are assessing how to take these forward without PSDS funding.
In addition, Norse has carried out a desk study of Libraries and Youth Centres to prioritise them by energy performance.
An energy audit of County Hall has been prepared by Norse. As part of this, we submitted an applications to the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) to investigate how to improve the heating systems at County Hall. We hope to hear in June/July whether or not it’s been successful.
Renewables [Amber 🟠]
Target: Develop 11 MWp of solar PV and onshore wind on DCC’s Estate by 2030/31.
We are investigating a range of renewable energy projects, which will contribute to the target. The most advanced are solar PV on salt barns – we have the capital budgeted for Tiverton, Okehampton and Crediton depots, which could all take 25kW each – and 2 other roof systems.
County farmhouses retrofit [Green 🟢]
There are 68 dwellings on County Farms of which 43 have been renovated to the Decent Homes standard, which leaves 25 remaining. Another 4 farmhouses are to be done this financial year.
Street lighting [Green 🟢]
At least 70,000 of the 80,000+ lamps (89%) have been replaced with LED technology. The remaining non-LED’s are generally awkward ones e.g. ornate lanterns etc. so the process has slowed down but continuing.
A programme of installing a Central Management System (CMS) is complete. This allows much better control of lighting and identification of failed lamps without physical surveys. A trial of dimming the lamps to 40% brightness away from main roads for 12 months across Devon commenced April 2025 and is estimated to save 200 tonnes of carbon. It will also benefit wildlife active at night, such as moths and bats. Cabinet approved the changes in February 2026 – Permanent street lighting changes given the green light – News
Schools estate [Red🔴]
The maintenance programme is very stretched and work is focussed on ensuring basic structures, such as roofs, are kept sound. We have used the Low Carbon Skills Fund to develop a prioritisation strategy and detailed audits of 5 schools but we have had to put work on schools on hold due to the lack of capital funding.
We are updating the guidance note on solar PV on school roofs and will re-issue it when the Treasury issues clarification on the classification of third-party deals as debt e.g. where a community energy group leases a roof and the school buys back the electricity at a cheaper rate.
Fleet electric vehicles [Green 🟢]
Targets:
• 100% of cars and car-derived vans to be electric by March 2031.
• 56 electric vehicles in the fleet by March 2026 (+12 each year); currently achieved 46.
A further 15 in 26/27 has been submitted to the Capital Programme Group. Awaiting outcome.
With about 320 vehicles in the DCC-owned fleet, this means that 17% of the fleet is electric.
Electric vehicle charging posts [Green 🟢]
Additional charging points will be installed to take into account additional EVs. Issues with reliability appear to have been solved by recommissioning the posts.
Business travel/Commuting [Amber 🟠]
We publicised Bike to Work Week and the use of the electric cargo bikes at County Hall and Great Moor House.
Carbon offsetting [Amber 🟠]
Finding sufficient carbon credits to meet net-zero by 2030 continues to prove challenging. This will be reviewed with the Carbon Reduction Plan in 2027.
DCC has entered into a partnership with the Luppitt Local Landscape Recovery Project to generate carbon credits from the changes in management practices, which the project is encouraging. DCC has contributed towards the costs of soil testing to establish a base-line of carbon stocks and greenhouse gas flux from land. Luppitt CIC is submitting its bid to Defra in the next few months and we are really hoping it will be successful. The interested farms have all had a carbon baseline done and will therefore be able to sell carbon credits, whatever the outcome of the bid. However, it will clearly be beneficial to have project staff supporting the farmers and acting as a central point of sale.
Planting of the 10ha Brook Wood was completed by March 2025. The validation of the project for carbon credits will be completed in 26/27.
Carbon data improvements [Amber 🟠]
We commissioned Exeter University to carry out a GIS-based assessment of carbon stocks and the greenhouse gas flux from DCC’s undeveloped land last year. Due to uncertainties, the study found a large potential range in carbon stocks and flux. However the best guess is that DCC’s undeveloped land is sequestering about 3,000 tCO2e a year. Further work to refine the methodology has been commissioned.
In addition, Exeter Uni has applied the methodology to Devon as a whole to set a baseline for the LNRS. The report highlights the Dartmoor as a major source of carbon emissions, due to the peat drying out and eroding.
The Green House Gas Protocol, which we use to guide our carbon accounting, has just produced guidance on how to bring emissions related to land, land-use change and natural products. We will consider what this means for DCC’s footprint and bring a paper to EPMG.
3. Waste Strategy and Action Plan 2025
The plan is now complete and is posted on the website. Progress has been limited due to staff changes in Estates and current capacity in the Climate and Sustainability team.
Reduce amount of waste produced by reviewing processes [Amber 🟠]
We are making progress to review and revamp recycling systems and processes at our main offices. We have produced a range of communications to raise staff awareness.
Re-use of redundant items [Amber 🟠]
Re-use policy has been adopted and published. We will continue to raise awareness and monitor effectiveness.
Increase recycling rate [Amber 🟠]
We have complied with the Simpler Recycling Regulations and alerted staff and schools that it’s now a legal requirement to separate recyclables. Simpler Recycling for Schools – School Communications
Tackle plastic waste produced [Amber 🟠]
Re-useable take-away cups will be promoted as part of the waste awareness campaign in 2026.
4. Low Carbon Supply Chain Strategy
Adoption of the strategy [Green 🟢]
The Strategy was approved by Cabinet in December 2024 and we have appointed an officer to lead on its implementation.
Highways carbon project [Amber 🟠]
Exeter University are undertaking a project to help understand the impact of climate change on roads and bridges. First report expected in January 26.
A supply chain ’Devon Highways’ Decarbonisation plan has been developed. This is the first detailed supply chain plan developed.
Work to understand the procurement and contractual requirements for the Term Service Contract is underway, including consideration of clauses in the specification relating to carbon data and actions.
A382 (Including Jetty Marsh Link Road) – Carbon Negative Project [Green 🟢]
The team continues to share learning including a show and tell session with other Live Labs. They plan to host a Live Labs project day on 10 February to show the site to the other labs, ADEPT commissioning board and DfT as well as staff from other parts of DCC. The day will including short presentations from DCC and three of the other projects, along with a site visit to provide an update on the A382. Separately, Devon has been engaged in discussions around street lighting, with East Riding’s Live Labs approach to be used in Devon.
The road closure, which has been in place since 25 September, has enabled works to progress well on Jetty Marsh site to build a new roundabout, including installation of wick drains under the new embankment to help settlement during construction. This means that the project is on schedule despite challenging weather conditions, and the landscape is changing dramatically with the level being reduced by five metres in places.
With the high volume of slow-moving heavy machinery on site, normal traffic flow would have been severely disrupted if temporary traffic lights had been used, rather than a road closure. As well as construction practicalities, health and safety were also key factors in the decision to close the road, in order to protect the public and the site workforce.
To date:
• 29,605 tonnes of excavated material have been re-used on the project
• The use of wick drains have avoided the import of 3,305 cu.m of stone to site
• Timber from the tree clearance is being used on site for the path edging
5. Environmental Communications Plan
Training [Amber 🟠]
The update of the Environmental Sustainability e-learning module on DEL is under way and should be completed in July.
General communications [Green 🟢]
Overall, environmental communications are limited by staff resource but have increased.
• the internal-facing web pages have been updated and brought together here: Green working – Inside Devon – tasks and guides
• The external facing website pages for the Environmental Policy and Energy/Climate Change have been updated – see here Environmental policy – Environment
• An awareness campaign around waste and recycling is under way.
Race to Zero [Purple 🟣]
It was proposed to sign up to this UN-sponsored pledge scheme in the latest Carbon Reduction Plan but has been put on hold due to Local Government Reorganisation.
6. Environmental Risk Purple
Service-Level Climate Adaptation Risk Assessments [Purple 🟣]
Additional officer resource has been recruited into the Climate and Sustainability Team to take forward a climate adaptation risk assessment. However, this has been put on hold due to Local Government Reorganisation.
7. Water
Water resource management surveys [Amber 🟠]
A new officer is being recruited to take forward partnership working to achieve better water quality in Devon’s rivers and seas. They will also review whether DCC can do more to manage its use of water.