Lancashire County Council Green Energy Strategy: Key Points for Homeowners

Lancashire County Council has set an ambitious target to achieve net zero carbon emissions from its own operations by 2030, with a broader aspiration for the whole county to reach net zero by 2050. The council’s Environment and Climate Strategy includes plans that directly affect Lancashire homeowners: expanded energy efficiency programmes, support for renewable energy installations, improved EV charging infrastructure and collaboration with district councils on housing retrofit schemes. While these are council-level initiatives, the practical impact for homeowners is real – more funding, better support services and a growing local green economy.

Lancashire is a county of contrasts when it comes to energy. Urban areas like Burnley, Blackburn and Preston have dense terraced housing with high heat loss and significant fuel poverty. Rural areas across the Ribble Valley, Fylde and Forest of Bowland have off-grid properties relying on oil and LPG. The coast has its own challenges with exposure and ageing housing stock. The county council’s strategy attempts to address all of these while working within the reality of constrained public sector budgets.

The County Council’s Energy Targets

The council’s strategy sets out several headline targets:

• Net zero carbon from council operations by 2030
• 100% renewable electricity for council buildings
• Decarbonisation of the council’s vehicle fleet
• Support for residents and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions
• Increased renewable energy generation across the county
• Reduction in fuel poverty through targeted energy efficiency programmes

The council operations targets are already driving visible changes – solar panels on county buildings, LED lighting upgrades in schools and libraries, and electric vehicles replacing diesel in the council fleet. For homeowners, the more relevant commitments are around housing energy efficiency, renewable energy support and fuel poverty reduction.

Housing and Energy Efficiency Programmes

The county council works with Lancashire’s 12 district councils (Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Ribble Valley, Lancaster, Wyre, Fylde, Preston, South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire) to deliver housing energy efficiency programmes. Key initiatives include:

government energy efficiency schemes coordination: The county council helps district councils implement government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions referrals, which allow non-benefits households in fuel poverty to access funded insulation and heating improvements. Some districts have been more active than others in using government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions – Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn have led the way, while others are expanding their programmes.

Home Upgrade Grant (HUG): Lancashire has received funding through the Home Upgrade Grant for off-gas-grid properties. This targets homes in rural Lancashire that rely on oil, LPG or electric heating and have low EPC ratings. Eligible properties can receive insulation, heat pumps and other measures funded through HUG. This is particularly relevant for homeowners in the Ribble Valley, Forest of Bowland, Over Wyre and rural Fylde areas.

Social housing retrofit: Several Lancashire housing associations and council housing providers are undertaking large-scale retrofit programmes, upgrading social housing with insulation, new windows and heating improvements. While this directly affects social housing tenants rather than private homeowners, it builds local installer capacity and demonstrates retrofit techniques that can be applied to private homes.

Renewable Energy and Planning

The county council influences renewable energy deployment through planning policy, though most planning decisions for residential solar panels are made at district council level. The key points for homeowners:

Supportive planning policy: Lancashire’s planning framework generally supports residential renewable energy installations. Solar panels, heat pumps and EV chargers benefit from permitted development rights, meaning most homeowners do not need planning permission. Where permission is needed (conservation areas, listed buildings), the county and district councils have been increasingly supportive of well-designed proposals.

Community energy: The strategy supports community energy projects where groups of residents collectively invest in renewable installations. Community solar projects on public buildings (schools, community centres) are being explored across several Lancashire districts.

Local Area Energy Planning: Lancashire is developing Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) that map out the energy infrastructure needed for each area to reach net zero. These plans identify where heat networks, solar farms, battery storage and grid upgrades are needed, helping to prioritise investment and coordinate action.

EV Infrastructure

The county council is expanding EV charging infrastructure across Lancashire, focusing on areas where home charging is difficult:

• On-street residential charging in terraced areas where homes lack driveways
• Public charging hubs in town centres and at public car parks
• Rapid charging at key transport corridors including the M6, M65 and A59
• Workplace charging support for Lancashire businesses

For homeowners who cannot install a home EV charger due to lack of off-street parking, the expanding public charging network makes EV ownership increasingly viable. Our guide to the best public EV charging points across Lancashire and Greater Manchester maps the current network.

Fuel Poverty in Lancashire

Lancashire has some of the highest fuel poverty rates in England. Areas of East Lancashire – particularly Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn – have fuel poverty rates of 18-22%, well above the national average of around 13%. This reflects the combination of low household incomes, older housing stock with poor energy efficiency, and high energy costs.

The county council’s strategy recognises fuel poverty as both a social and environmental challenge. Improving the energy efficiency of Lancashire’s housing stock reduces carbon emissions while also reducing heating costs for the most vulnerable residents. The strategy supports:

• Targeted insulation programmes in high fuel poverty areas
• Energy guidance services to help residents reduce bills and access support
• Coordination between health services and energy efficiency programmes (recognising that cold homes cause health problems)
• Maximising uptake of national grants like government energy efficiency schemes and the government insulation scheme

Our guides to government energy efficiency schemes eligibility and the winter energy discount scheme cover the specific support available to Lancashire households.

What This Means for You

As a Lancashire homeowner, the county council’s green energy strategy creates several practical opportunities:

• More grant funding: The council is actively securing and distributing government funding for home energy improvements. If you have not checked your eligibility for government energy efficiency schemes, HUG or other schemes recently, now is a good time.
• Better local support: Energy guidance services, referral pathways and local coordination are improving. Your district council can increasingly help you navigate the complex landscape of grants and schemes.
• Growing installer market: As more public and private installations happen across Lancashire, the local market of qualified installers grows, improving competition and keeping costs competitive.
• Future-proofing your home: The direction of travel is clear: energy efficiency and low-carbon heating will become increasingly expected. Investing in your home’s energy performance now aligns with where policy and property markets are heading.

How can I find out about local grants in my area?

Contact your district council’s housing or environmental health team. They can tell you about current programmes in your specific area and help you access the right scheme. Our guide to local authority grants for energy upgrades in Greater Manchester covers the Manchester side, and many Lancashire districts offer similar support.

Does the county council offer direct grants to homeowners?

Most grant funding for individual homes is administered through the district councils rather than the county council directly. The county council’s role is primarily strategic – securing funding, coordinating programmes and setting policy direction. Contact your local district council for direct support.

Can I get involved in community energy projects?

Yes. Community energy groups are active across Lancashire and welcome new members and investors. Check the Community Energy England website for groups near you, or contact your local council about community energy initiatives in your area. Even a small investment in a community solar project lets you participate in the green energy transition if you cannot install panels on your own home.