Deputy Mayor Visits Sutton to Champion Climate Innovation

Sutton welcomed London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban MBE, to showcase the borough’s innovative efforts to combat the climate emergency and its ambitious plans for the future.

The tour started with a visit to a local business, Cafe Mica in Times Square shopping centre, which is part of Sutton Council’s Green Energy Partnership scheme. The scheme aims to help local businesses take advantage of the benefits of the sustainability agenda, such as reduced energy bills and increased customer engagement. Participating businesses benefit from a 70% discount on their business rates bill.

The tour continued at Harris Academy Sutton, the UK’s first Passivhaus secondary school. The facility sets a national benchmark for sustainable design and reducing energy use while providing an enhanced learning environment. The school is also part of Sutton’s masterplan for the London Cancer Hub, offering a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient school for Sutton’s aspiring scientists of the future. The visitors spoke with students and staff to see how sustainability is embedded in education at Harris Academy Sutton.

The visit also highlighted Sutton Decentralised Energy Network (SDEN), which delivers sustainable, low-carbon heating to local homes and businesses. Work, with support from the Greater London Authority, is currently underway to connect the New Mill Quarter housing development in Hackbridge to the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Beddington Lane. This will use energy that would otherwise go to waste.

These initiatives all demonstrate Sutton’s leadership in renewable energy and sustainable development.

Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said: 
“I was delighted to visit Sutton and see how the borough is tackling the climate emergency and driving down carbon emissions, including supporting businesses to be more sustainable and using energy that would otherwise go to waste.

“The Mayor is determined to ensure that London continues to be a global leader in tackling the climate crisis and through everyone working together and playing their part, we can deliver on Sadiq’s vision of a greener, fairer London for everyone.”

Leader of Sutton Council, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Deputy Mayor to Sutton and show him some of the innovative projects and schemes that Sutton Council is taking forward to tackle the climate emergency, achieve carbon neutrality and drive growth in the borough.

“We are ambitious to do more and look forward to working with the London Mayor and the government to continue this work.’’