Leeds City Council has launched a £150,000 fund to help employers in Leeds support sustainable travel and reduce emissions.
The scheme will help tackle air pollution and protect the health of everyone in Leeds by allocating grants to the best proposals submitted that will reduce the use of diesel or petrol vehicles amongst staff, service users or other third parties.
Proposals will be scored based on how they will benefit air quality within Leeds, the longevity of these benefits, and value for money.
Businesses, organisations and consortiums can propose any scheme that would reduce the number of journeys using a diesel or petrol vehicle or replace them with cleaner vehicles, however a non-exhaustive list of ideas for potential schemes include:
- Replacing journeys during the working day by providing electric vehicles or electric and non-electric bicycles for staff to use instead.
- Reducing journeys by supporting a workplace car sharing scheme.
- Reducing journeys by supporting staff to use active travel instead, such as providing staff cycle storage or shower facilities.
- Reducing journeys by providing an electric or hybrid bus to transport of staff between sites.
- Reducing journeys by installing smart working technology (such as videoconferencing).
- Reducing journeys of delivery couriers by providing reception facilities to accept staff deliveries .
- Replacing delivery vans with cargo bikes or electric vehicles for last mile delivery.
The new fund was announced by Cllr Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development at an event to launch the Big Leeds Climate Conversation on the 16th July.
Cllr Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, said:
“Tackling air pollution and becoming a carbon-neutral city are two issues that we know many residents care passionately about.
“Every morning more than 60,000 people drive alone into Leeds—many travelling to or from their workplace—causing congestion, worsening air pollution and accelerating the effects of climate change.
“Whilst Leeds City Council is investing in the city’s transport network to make it easier to leave the car at home, we also believe that employers also have a key role to play.
“This fund is a fantastic opportunity for employers to implement schemes that have will have many holistic benefits that include reducing the city’s overall emissions from transport as well as giving workers greater flexibility in choosing how they travel.
The funding competition is part of the council’s government-funded early measures work to improve air quality prior to the introduction of the Clean Air Zone.
Air pollution has been shown to cause or worsen a range of lung and heart conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic heart disease and stroke.
Applicants will have until the 6th August 2019 to submit their proposals.
How to apply
Businesses, organisations and consortiums should download and read all of the competition documentation below before submitting their application.
Completed applications should be submitted to: ModalShiftCompetition@leeds.gov.uk before Tuesday 6th August 2019 at noon in order to be considered.
| Date | Event |
| 16th July 2019 | Competition opens |
| 6th August 2019 (noon) | Competition closes |
| 7th August 2019 | Evaluation of funding bids starts |
| 21st August 2019 | Evaluation of funding bids finishes |
| W/C 26th August 2019 | Funding award notifications |
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Our vision for Leeds is to be a city where you don’t need a car 