Sustainability and Climate Commission Potential Project Pipeline
| Org Name | Project title | Brief Summary of the Project | Status | Dates of project | Partners (if applicable) | Outputs/Outcomes (Brief Summary) We are just trying to identify projects at this stage. |
| Londonderry Chamber of Commerce | NW Future of Energy Conference and Exhibition | Annual event aimed at businesses, policy makers, education providers and addresses issues pertinent to the NW reion of Ireland | Operational and successful but needs more funding | Nov-25 | Letterkenny Chamber | Thought leadership/ information/ business and networking |
| The Playhouse | Artitude | A place-based collaborative movement enabling community-led transformation in our relationship with nature, waste, circular economy and climate action. |
Operational and successful but needs more funding | 2024-2027 | DCSDC, Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland Resources Network, Zero Waste North West | Artitude Residencies x 9 Led by communities throughout the Derry City and Strabane District Council area Festival Programming Local-led and climate-inspired Learning and Dissemination Public media and discourse portfolio, championing community voices Research and Evaluation Listening and Learning from people in communities |
| Developing Healthy Communities | Live and breathe | Our proposed project aims to use measurement of domestic indoor air quality (IAQ) in Derry City and Strabane to empower communities to save energy and prevent ill health. We plan to install an IAQ monitoring network in private and social homes. Alongside we will work with local communities and schools to deliver a programme of education and engagement. | Project in development | TBC | In original bid: Hive, Triax, NIHE, DCSDC, UU | Domestic air quality data, community engaged in factors affecting air quality including domestic heating, insulation, behaviour (Cork Behav-I-Air provides potential model) https://behaviair.org/ |
| Hive Cancer support | Spring into Action: A Community-Led, Chemical-Free Weed Reduction Initiative | This initiative aims to reduce the use of Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, in local communities by promoting chemical-free, community-led weed control efforts. Delivered over six months, the project will engage residents, community groups, and youth clubs in targeted areas to clear weeds, beautify public spaces, and create healthier, safer environments. | Aspirational Project | October 2025 - October 2026 | Triax Neighbourhood Team | raise awareness of the dangers of chemical like Glphosate to local communities and public agenices Community Feedback and Data Collection: Host focus groups and distribute surveys to gather feedback on the project’s impact and identify areas for improvement. Use the collected data to create a report highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future projects. Sustainability Planning: Work with councils and community groups to establish a long-term plan for chemical-free weed control. Explore future funding opportunities and provide resources to support continued efforts. Celebration Event: Organise a closing event to recognise participants and showcase the transformed spaces. Present awards for outstanding contributions by volunteers and partner organisations. |
| TRANSLINK | STRABANE EV BUS PROJECT | TO INTRODUCE EV BUSES INTO STRABNE DEPOT , INCLUDING ASSOCIATED CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE | Project in development | 2026 | WRIGHTBUS/ NIE | |
| TRANSLINK | PHASE 2 EV BUS PROJECT DERRY | INCREASE OUR CHARGING CAPCITY IN PENNYBURN YARD BY AN ADDITIONAL 4 UNITS | Other (please comment) | MARCH 2025 COMPLETION | THIS PROJECT HAS JUST COMMENCED ON THE GROUND | |
| Creggan Country Park | Climate Community | Making our park more sustainable and helping members of the community take climate action | Project in development | unknown | N/A | o A significant reduction in carbon emissions through the use of renewable energy. o Enhanced flood resilience, protecting both the park and surrounding areas. o Increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration through tree planting initiatives. o Strengthened community bonds through shared projects like the orchard and nursery. o Increased awareness of climate change, sustainability, and local food production. |
| Life Cycles | ||||||
| Loughs Agency | Climate resilient catchments - Nature Based Solutions | Nature-Based Solutions: Implementing innovative nature-based solutions to restore natural catchments processes. This includes conservation measures such as wetland restoration, water management measures to reduce runoff, sediment loss, nutrient loss, co-benefits relating to pesticide losses to waterways and flood impact reduction through provision of green infrastructure. The implementation of nature-based solutions, including riparian buffer zones, flood plain reconnection and wetland restoration etc, will help mitigate against flood risk vulnerability by 'slowing the flow' and will contribute to building some degree of resilience against future climate change impacts. Climate change will exacerbate water quality issues through increased flooding, altered precipitation patterns, and higher temperatures, which can amplify nutrient runoff and pollutant concentrations in water bodies. The 'in combination' outputs of this works programme will go some way to addressing these issues. | Operational and successful but needs more funding | Ongoing | ||
| Loughs Agency | Climate resilient catchments - Improving resilience and adaptation strategies through data | Monitoring of identified parameters to assess long-term trends in chemical and biological water quality and in hydro-morphology. Use of acoustic telemetry to monitor migratory species and inform management strategies. | Operational and successful but needs more funding | Ongoing | ||
| Loughs Agency | Our buildings and property | Investment in the decarbonisation of our building stock, enhance our energy management programme, and enhance existing fleet by rolling out a replacement programme to transition towards low and no emission vehicles. | Operational and successful but needs more funding | Ongoing | ||
| Loughs Agency | Climate & Sustainability Officer | Employment of staff member to coordinate delivery of CAP actions | Project in development | 2025 | ||
| Derry City & Strabane District Council | Grow, Cook, Eat! | The "Grow, Cook, Eat" programme will bring people together to foster sustainable living through food. The programme will make the link between the food that we grow and the food that we eat. Sessions will be designed to combine growing, cooking and enjoying food together. | Aspirational Project | 3 years | Community Foundation/ The Conservation Volunteers/ Social Farms and Gardens | Outputs: -Deliver a series of interactive sessions combining gardening, cooking, and communal meals. -Engage with a diverse group of participants to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. -Provide hands-on education on sustainable food practices and seasonal cooking techniques. -Create a welcoming environment for people to connect and share knowledge about food and sustainability. Outcomes: -Increased awareness of the link between growing and eating food. -Enhanced skills in sustainable gardening, cooking, and food preparation. -Strengthened community bonds through shared meals and collaborative activities. -Promotion of healthier eating habits and sustainable living practices. |
| Derry City & Strabane District Council | Exisitng Website Development | Website Development: Acorn Farm's website will serve as a central hub to showcase the farm's mission, events, and educational initiatives. Key features will include an online booking system for workshops, volunteer shifts, and events, streamlining participation and enhancing accessibility. Additionally, the website will feature resources on sustainable living, updates on farm activities, and a platform to connect with like minded individuals. By integrating these elements, the website will amplify theAcorn Farm's impact and encourage broader community involvement. | Project in development | Ongoing | Community Foundation/ The Conservation Volunteers/ Social Farms and Gardens | Outputs: -Development of a user-friendly website for Acorn Farm. Integration of an online booking system for workshops, volunteer shifts, and events. -Creation of a resource section featuring sustainable living tips and farm updates. -A platform for connecting with like-minded individuals and fostering community engagement. Outcomes: -Increased awareness of Acorn Farm’s mission and activities. -Simplified and more accessible participation in farm events and initiatives. -Greater community involvement and stronger connections among supporters. -Enhanced promotion of sustainable living practices, benefiting the community and environment. |
| Red Cross | Community Resilience Pilots - DCSDC | Supporting development of Community Risk Registers to improve preparedness at local levels by building on existing work and structures within LG including Community Development and Emergency Planning. This is one of 2 NI pilots that engaged with local communities to examine local understanding of resilience; comparison of local risks versus national risk listings and the experience and impacts of emergencies on the community population. This is a new approach to resilience building promoting community led programmes supported by but not dominated by statutory and traditional responders. These pilots will inform the next phase of development of RCRG (Regional Community Resilience Group) led by DFI and LG Civil Contingencies, to support community led approaches to disaster risk reduction that could be replicated acrosss NI. | In 2023/24 the UK government committed significant spend to support a "whole of society approach" to improve preparedness for future emergencies. This is not replicated in NI and RCRG is engaged with TEO and LGDs to adopt similar approach in priortising and investing in planning and preparedness of NI society to future known and unknown risks. | |||
| Red Cross | Climate Ready Communities proposal - cross sector, cross border programme led by Cathy Burns DCSDC including Donegal and Waterford City Councils, Climate NI, Maynooth University, Irish Red Cross & British Red Cross | Working in 6 communities (DCSDC/Donegal/Waterford) to address risks and improve preparedness (social, economic environmental), mitigations and oppportunities (green economy, renewable energies and food production) in adapting to climate change and commitmen to Net Zero. This proposal is underpinned by a Climate Just transition to ensure that adaptation improvements and mitigation measures are inclusive and affordable across socio-economic populations. This programme would provide a proof of concept that could be replicated in communities across the island of Ireland | ||||
| Red Cross | Community Resilience Urban Areas (CRUA) Toolkit | Co-designed with people and communities with lived experience of flooding in NI this Red Cross toolkit faciltates community led programme to raise awareness of risks; to take practical steps to protect individual households; vulnerable populations and the wider community to any future flooding events. There are number options for workshops and information sessions - based on the needs of people with lived experience. This is a free resource that has been adopted by the RCRG as best practice resource for community engagement to support disaster risk reduction.The toolkit is non scientific, it is accessible and can be adapted for other risks eg London Boroughs communities also identified fires as a major concern | ||||
| The Sperrins Partnership | Sperrins AONB Management and Action Plan | The Management Plan will have identified nature recovery and peatland restoration projects | Project in development | Will know in 6-9 months | DAERA | Development of Nature Recovery network in Sperrins AONB and Peatland Restoration Projects in Mournes AONB |
| Woodlands Trust | Faughan Valley Woodland Creation | Development of Woodland Newtork in the Faughan Valley | Operational and successful but needs more funding | Woodland Creation and Restoration | ||
| Life Cycles NI | Life Cycles | A community-focused project repairing and refurbishing bicycles to reduce waste, promote sustainable transport, improve well being and increase access to affordable transportation for vulnerable groups and the community as a whole. | Operational and successful but needs more funding | Ongoing | Local Council, Schools, Refugee Support Organisations, Community Groups | - Refurbished bicycles at affordable prices for the public. We also support refugees and schools with donations of bikes. - Bike repair and cycling workshops - Increased mobility for marginalised groups - Reduced landfill waste. |
| Derry Diocesan Trust | Delivery of Diocesan Environmental Strategy | To deliver a series of environmental initiatives across the Diocese including planting and biodiversity projects; development and maintenance of community gardens; litter-picking; awareness-raising, engagement and educational events; energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects; and monitoring of activities. | Other (please comment) | Pilot 2023/24. Ready for implementation pending appointment of Environmental and Sustainability Officer | Three Patrons Parish Care for Creation Group. Diocese of Derry Laudato Sí Group. Wild Inishowen Group. | Planting of trees, hedges, wild flowers. Litter collected. Communication programme developed and delivered. Community Gardens developed. Events programme developed and delivered. Energy audits and decarbonisation / sustainability plans developed. Data recorded, including baseline. |
| Central Riverfront Project, Londonderry | The Central Riverfront Project is a partnership project between Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Department for Infrastructure. The project seeks to re-imagine the Derry Central Riverfront area to secure a shift from the private car to more sustainable and active travel modes by maximizing opportunities for people to make environmentally friendly and healthy travel choices for their daily journeys and for leisure. The vision for the Central Riverfront project has two core elements: the provision of an Active Travel / Public Transport Corridor and the introduction of high-quality public realm from reallocated road space | £45m | 2024-2025 | Derry and Strabane City Deal, D&S Council and DfI | ||
| Strabane Town Centre Footbridge | New footbridge providing wider active travel connections between the Bradley Way area on the west of the town and the town centre commercial and civic facilities. The Strabane town centre footbridge is part of a wider programme of work for Strabane regeneration which includes a new Northwest Regional College Campus, a Primary Health Care Hub and Leisure Centre. OBC approved Autumn 2024. | £10.4m | 2025 | Derry and Strabane City Deal, D&S Council and DfI | ||
| Cycleways | Clooney Road – Phase 1 (Shared Footway) - planned Glenshane Road, Claudy (Shared Footway) -planned Foreglen Road, Claudy (Shared Footway) - started Moss Road and Fern Road, Galliagh (Design of footway upgrades for Active Travel use) - planned |
£850K | 2025 | Derry and Strabane City Deal, D&S Council and DfI | ||
| Peatland restoration | Extensive Peatland restoration and training programme - not in area but opportunties to build skills/ collaborate on future projects | £2.7m - 5 organisations awarded funding - see https://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/questions/printquestionsummary.aspx?docid=413053 | 2024-2027 | |||
| Social Housing upgrade | want to integrate energy efficiency measures into social housing upgrades | Spend about £200m on standard social housing upgrades each year - Across NI | ? | Kelly Devlin/Robert Clements (interview) | ||
| Private Sector support/info for retrofit | Offer the public an Energy Advice service- AE support remains with resident throughout the retrofit process. – get 20K calls per year. See Home Energy Scotland as a good model. | Funding committed? | ongoing | Kelly Devlin/Robert Clements (interview) | ||
| Health and Wellbeing pre and post retrofit review | qualitative evaluation project on health and wellbeing pre and post retrofit. Applying to UKRI - 30 house resident sample group | Applying to UKRI (2024) | 2025 onwards? | Kelly Devlin/Robert Clements (interview) and Joan, University of Ulster | ||
| Air Quality in houses | Also partner in application with Oxford Brookes on air quality in houses – led by Rajat Gupta. | Application - funding stream unknown | ? | Kelly Devlin/Robert Clements (interview) - part of project led by Rajat Gupta, Oxford Brookes University | ||
| Full House retrofit programme | Project already being delivered - 30-40 houses in D&S are included in the 300 full retrofit homes programme. | Funded as part of NI prgroamme | Project is already operational and learnings from process now available | Kelly Devlin/Robert Clements (interview) | ||
| New Fuel Poverty intervention schemes | in development | NI Government Funded? | Timeline unknown | DfC | ||
| Developing Healthy Communities | Live and breathe | Our proposed project aims to use measurement of domestic indoor air quality (IAQ) in Derry City and Strabane to empower communities to save energy and prevent ill health. We plan to install an IAQ monitoring network in private and social homes. Alongside we will work with local communities and schools to deliver a programme of education and engagement. | Project in development | TBC | In original bid: Hive, Triax, NIHE, DCSDC, UU | Domestic air quality data, community engaged in factors affecting air quality including domestic heating, insulation, behaviour (Cork Behav-I-Air provides potential model) https://behaviair.org/ |
| Derry City & Strabane District Council | Strabane Positive Energy District (PED) Pilot | Strabane's pilot seeks to create an energy-efficient and energy-flexible urban area or group of connected buildings which produce net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and actively manage an annual local surplus production of renewable energy | Project in development | Requires OBC to be submitted to DfE (estimated timeframe early 2026) | To be determined following a technical feasibility study | |
| Derry City & Strabane District Council in collaboration with a number of European Partners | The DIGIREN project aims to develop digital solutions that facilitate participatory design, planning, and management of deep renovation projects involving end-users, building occupants, architects and various stakeholders. | Competitive process | Application to be submitted by Feb 2025 | ERNACT and number of European cities | The project will include integration of innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and IoT for data-driven simulations and visualisations. |