Midlands Net Zero Hub has awarded grant funding to five local authorities in the Midlands to develop decarbonisation plans for industrial zones in their areas.

The Industrial Zones Decarbonisation Project was created by the Hub and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support councils in the Midlands to develop decarbonisation plans for industrial and commercial sites. The funding will be used by the local authorities to investigate opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and overcome barriers to getting projects moving.

The projects awarded funding are as follows.

Boston Borough Council

The Boston Cluster is a crucial national economic hub that plays a key logistical role in the agri-food, steel and timber production. 

The project lead by South Holland District Council is located on the Marsh Lane estate, spanning over 100 acres either side of the River Haven and is an area dominated by food processing, manufacturing and whole sale distribution and is characterised by energy-intensive operations due to the need for cooling, heating and processing equipment.

The project seeks to deliver an estate-wide approach by pooling investments in renewable energy generation, EV charging infrastructure, decarbonisation of heat, peer-to-peer trading, battery storage with a microgrid approach, and energy-efficiency measures.

🔄 Progress Update: August 2025

The Boston Industrial Cluster is currently being explored by Arcadis. They have completed the initial stage of data collection from stakeholders within the cluster boundary. On 18th June, Arcadis conducted follow-up engagement with stakeholders to develop practical solutions and inform the final report. This engagement included a detailed questionnaire addressing key drivers, operational benefits, and stakeholders’ openness to purchasing local energy.

Dudley Metropolitan Council

As part of the Net Zero Neighbourhoods programme, Dudley Metropolitan Council is developing a decarbonisation roadmap for its key industrial zones, initially focusing on Albion Works and Moor Street, with potential extension to Leys Road.

Covering industries from construction materials manufacture to waste processing, bakery production, and MOT testing, the study will identify at least five decarbonisation opportunities. For each, the carbon saving will be quantified, alongside cost, deliverability, and wider social, economic, and environmental impacts.

🔄 Progress Update: August 2025

The Midlands Net Zero Hub is working with Dudley Council to deliver a phased study, split into targeted work packages:

• Package 1: Energy and carbon baseline – completed.
• Package 2a: Quick-win interventions (e.g., LED upgrades, controls, efficient motors) – completed.
• Package 2b: Feasibility of rooftop solar PV – in progress.
• Package 3: On-site energy storage options – in progress.

The findings will inform a replicable case study to guide decarbonisation in privately owned and rented industrial premises, supporting Dudley’s net zero ambitions.

Redditch Borough Council

This project adopts a whole-site approach in support of the Worcestershire Energy Strategy, aiming to maximise opportunities while addressing key challenges and constraints in decarbonising the industrial and commercial sectors. The resulting model could be replicated across the county.

Opportunities under consideration include the redevelopment of nearby land, creating new space within the site, as well as the potential introduction of an energy centre for a heat network or a vehicle refuelling hub to support logistics companies transitioning to low-carbon fleets.

🔄 Progress Update: August 2025

We are working in partnership with Redditch Borough Council and AEW Architects to engage with businesses in North Moons Moat Industrial Estate. The aim is to understand the specific challenges and opportunities for decarbonisation and to develop a strategy positioning the estate as a low-carbon pioneer.

If you operate a business in this area and have not yet been contacted, please reach out to the project consultant to get involved:
📧 Peter Bartley: pbartley@aewarchitects.com

Staffordshire County Council

• This project focusses on The Midlands Growth Corridor (A50/500) and looks to enhance established partnerships while building new ones between the public sector, academia, and major businesses along the corridor.
• The project aims to catalyse innovation and further accelerate the development of clean energy and new technology, including hydrogen.
• The project will produce a coordinated innovation programme to develop a Zero Emission Valley to support the decarbonisation of the corridor, meeting net zero and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets of both the private and public sector.
• Further economic analysis will be developed through the project to understand the potential value and cost of delivery in a range of areas. These include developing clean fuel supplies for industrial processes, transitioning freight from road to rail, developing of a Regional Supplier Park, creating ‘Innovation Factories’, and improving efficiency through the use of smart factory technology for businesses across the corridor.

Worcester City Council

This project considers Worcester as a single industrial cluster, with a particular focus on the city’s manufacturing sector spread across its relatively compact urban boundary.

Working closely with key partners, the study will develop an action plan and project pipeline for place-based solutions to accelerate industrial decarbonisation. An outline assessment of all feasible technological options will be produced, providing high-level costs, recommendations, and pathways for implementation. This will support participating businesses in cutting emissions and operating costs, while creating a model that could be replicated in other locations.

🔄 Progress Update: August 2025

The Worcester Industrial Cluster Decarbonisation (WICD) programme is now engaging with local businesses to explore shared energy solutions that can both reduce emissions and cut costs across the city’s industrial estates.

The focus is on practical, collaborative measures such as:

• Generating renewable energy locally

• Developing heat networks

• Collaborative power purchasing

Each participating company will also receive a free energy assessment and decarbonisation review, and may be eligible to apply for up to £100,000 in Government grant funding via the Business Energy Advice Service to support the implementation of recommended measures.

📅 Join the First Workshop
📍 The Court Room, The Guildhall, Worcester City
🗓 Tuesday 23rd September | 09:30–12:00

The session will bring together local businesses and technical experts to discuss challenges, share ideas, and identify joint opportunities for low-carbon growth.

For more information or to register your interest, visit: Worcester Industrial Cluster Decarbonisation (WICD) | Pro Enviro

Jack Hayhoe, Head of Net Zero Programmes at Midlands Net Zero Hub, said: “I would like to congratulate the successful applicants of the Industrial Zones Decarbonisation Project. We know that industry can be a challenging sector to decarbonise, so we are pleased to support local authorities in the region to partner with organisations to develop strategies to reach net zero. We look forward to seeing the results of these projects, which can be used as a blueprint for other industrial and commercial zones in the Midlands.”