Manchester City Council says it’s “on track” to installing almost 10,000 new solar panels across the city by the end of 2023.
It may sound ambitious, but Manchester is well on its way to becoming home to a whopping 9,859 new solar panels in total before the year is out, which will ultimately help the city along its way to reaching the all-important target of becoming zero-carbon by 2038.
The installation of the new solar panels is said to be “a key part” of the Council’s five-year ‘Climate Change Action Plan’.
Continuing on with the mission to reduce carbon emissions from local buildings by using renewable energy and energy efficiency measures – which the Council pledged £6 million towards back in June of last year – a total of 6,897 solar panels have been installed at Council-run sites since 2022, and an additional 2,962 have been commissioned / or are in the pipeline to be delivered, before the end of this year.
Hough End Leisure Centre, the Wythenshawe Forum, and Moss Side Leisure Centre are some of the locations where new solar panels have already been installed, while Didsbury Library, and the Manchester Aquatic Centre, are expected to have see them soon.
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Almost 10,000 new solar panels to be installed across Manchester by end of 2023 / Credit: Gustavo Fring (via Pexels)
“This work shows that tangible progress is being made as the Council works to become a zero-carbon organisation,” Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Environment and Transport, at Manchester City Council, said of the new solar panels target.
“Renewables such as solar power, even in rainy Manchester, provide a viable and unlimited source of energy for buildings across the city.”
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One of the major renewable energy projects that has already been carried out as part of the zero-carbon mission is in a bid to, what the Council has described as, “turn pedal power into solar power” down at the Nation Cycling Centre – where solar car ports that provide shelter for vehicles, all while still generating power from solar panels installed on top, have been installed.
As a Council we are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and rely more on renewable energy sources.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 26, 2023
The recently-completed £2.9m project at what is “one of the most energy-dependent buildings within the Council’s estate” has been delivered the Council in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult and the European Regional Development Fund, and is said to be “an important pillar” of the Council’s overall carbon reduction plan.
In the eight weeks since the solar panels at the Velodrome went live, they have generated more than 47MWh of electricity, according to the Council, which is saving an estimated nine tonnes of carbon.
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Roughly around 172MWh of electricity is estimated to be generated annually.
“Looking at the National Cycling Centre, we have shown that we are able to seamlessly incorporate the use of renewable energy into the existing infrastructure,” Cllr Tracey Rawlins added.
“This sets a clear example of how this approach can be replicated across the city.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home
Emily Sergeant
The Council is now offering financial help to support people moving into a smaller and ‘more manageable’ property.
Ever heard of ‘rightsizing? Well, according Manchester City Council it’s a process where a tenant in a larger social rent, Council, or Housing Association property, that may have more rooms than they need or perhaps are struggling to manage a big house as they get older, can be supported into a smaller property that better suits their needs.
The benefits of this process include cheaper bills, lower rents, and overall, just homes that are easier to clean and manage.
The aim of it is also to free up larger Council properties for families who are on the housing register – of which there are said to be around 20,000 of them currently at this time, with larger homes having some of the most significant wait times.
Are you struggling to look after a big Council or housing association home? We can help!
We are offering £2,500 to help people move into a smaller more manageable home, freeing up larger homes for families that need them.
It’s also estimated, according to the Council, that a third of all social rented family homes are thought to ‘underoccupied’.
This is why financial support and grants are now being offered.
Last year alone, 109 households were helped to ‘rightsize’ and were supported in the process by a dedicated team of Council officers, as well as benefitting from the Rightsizing Incentive Scheme – with a further 432 households having expressed interest doing so in the future.
Residents interested in ‘rightsizing’ could get a cash incentive of £2,500, which can be spent on anything they like, along with moving costs.
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
“Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a Council home who may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development.
“Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the Council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.
“The benefit for the city is that we can free up more larger homes for people who are waiting for a property that properly meets their needs. We think around a third of Council tenants could be under occupying their home, which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.”
Does this sound like you? Are you ready to ‘rightsize’? Find out more and begin the process via Manchester City Council’s website here.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
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Trailer released for Netflix’s new Lucy Letby documentary with ‘unprecedented access’
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby has been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby – the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital – hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film – simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby – is described as being the most ‘comprehensive’ look at one of Britain’s most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given ‘unparalleled and exclusive access’ to those central to the story.
“This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility,” commented director, Dominic Sivyer. “Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case.”
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions – who produced the documentary – added: “The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone’s perspectives with care and understanding.
“We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th July 2023 
