Our approach to environmental sustainability

We are committed to improving our environment and reducing our carbon footprint. We can make changes on our doorstep that will benefit our local environment. Our behaviour and decisions can help to meet wider UK sustainability and carbon targets. We also need your help.

Our five-year corporate plan, Reigate & Banstead 2025, includes an objective to reduce the Council's own environmental impact, support local residents and businesses to do the same, and to make sure our activities increase the borough's resilience to the effects of climate change.

To help achieve this objective, the Council's Executive agreed a Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan in July 2020, which commits us to making our own operations, and the borough, a more sustainable place to live.  

Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action plan

A revised Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024 (PDF) and Strategy Action Plan (PDF) were approved by the Council Executive in March 2024 following an engagement and review process. This revision reflects the changes in policy and technology since 2020 and builds on our actions and lessons learn in the first three years of delivery.

Our overall goal is to reduce our environmental impact and support residents and businesses to do the same. We have identified four key themes, along with actions, so we can make a difference:

1. Energy and carbon – reducing emissions and increasing renewable energy
2. Low impact consumption - using fewer natural resources like water and food
3. Biodiversity and the natural environment – protecting and improving green spaces 
4. Climate adaptation and resilience - preparing for the future climate.

Learn more:

• Read a summary of the Strategy: Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024, summary
• Read the full Strategy: Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024 (PDF)
• Read the Action Plan: Strategy Action Plan (PDF) 
• Find our what you can do to help: Environmental sustainability and climate change

Progress and reporting

We will continue to report on our progress annually. Progress reports are available from the links below:

• 2024 (fourth) annual report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2024 Action Plan Progress Report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2023 (third) annual report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2023 Action Plan Progress Report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2022 Annual Report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2021 Full report (PDF, ModernGov)
• 2021 Summary (Word doc) 
• 2021 new actions (PDF) 

You can read the original 2020 Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan (PDF).