City council call for cash towards heating scheme.

FUNDING: Major investment to link energy centres and reduce carbon

The Scottish Government has been asked to provide funding for a city-wide district heating system in Dundee to reduce carbon and tackle fuel poverty.

Council leader John Alexander has written to ministers to request the multimillion-pound funding package.

The intention would be to link energy centres and existing district heating systems more widely.

Mr Alexander said: “Dundee City Council accounts for only 4% of total emissions – it’s important that we lead from the front but take others with us.

“We can’t tackle this emergency in isolation.

“We also need to bring the port and airport into the conversation and challenge where most emissions currently come from.”

In four separate announcements, the SNP administration outlined huge investment as part of the budget for the upcoming financial year.

The SNP councillor said projects with a value in excess of £87 million will seek to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and to respond to the climate emergency over the coming years.

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I hope to bring forward further investment as we progress. COUNCIL LEADER JOHN ALEXANDER

Mr Alexander said, in addition to that, the administration has set aside funding of £25m in future years to deliver sustainability projects and a further £10m for sustainable transport, including cycling infrastructure.

The intention would be to develop detailed plans and bring forward funding to achieve results earlier.

Spending of £57m has recently been delivered on a wide range of measures to alleviate the impact and address the climate emergency, including external wall insulation, solar panels installation, LED lighting, electric vehicle infrastructure and investment in parks and public space.

He said: “I hope to bring forward further investment as we progress and we will also be seeking support from government and its agencies to deliver projects which significantly reduce carbon output across Dundee.”

He said more than 12,000 trees have been planted, solar panels deployed on multi-stories and new electric vehicle infrastructure utilising solar panels, all supporting a broader Climate Action Plan.

Alan Ross, convener of city development, has committed to delivering more than £2.5m of investment on city centre improvements as part of the capital plan proposals.

The administration has also tabled £500,000 for its participatory budget over the next five years, where communities decide how money is spent in their area, and a further £1m in future.