Plan for Change in Barnet: Making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower

The national Labour Plan for Change on Clean Energy has launched Great British Energy, committed £15 billion to the Warm Homes Plan, and set a target of clean power by 2030. In Barnet, Labour, as part of our 2026 Manifesto, has pledged to Keep Barnet Green, to protect our green spaces, plant 4,000 more trees and create a ‘Regional Park’, making even more green space accessible.

Clean Energy in Barnet’s Schools

Solar panels, LED lighting, and air source heat pumps have been installed across 36 Barnet schools, delivering annual savings of 1,040 tonnes of CO2 — equivalent to taking hundreds of cars off the road. The investment improves learning environments, reduces energy costs for schools, and demonstrates to pupils first-hand what sustainable infrastructure looks like, as reported in Our Plan for Barnet Review 2025/26.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Since 2021, Barnet has installed more than 1,200 electric vehicle charging points across the borough, making Barnet one of London’s better-served boroughs for EV infrastructure. Expanding the charging network is essential to supporting the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, reducing air pollution in Barnet’s streets and neighbourhoods.

Tree Planting and Green Spaces

The council has planted nearly 2,000 trees and is on track toward a target of 5,000 trees by 2028. Urban trees absorb carbon, improve air quality, support biodiversity, and make Barnet’s streets and parks more pleasant for residents. The tree-planting programme is part of a wider commitment to green space expansion and the borough’s Sustainability Action Plan.

Net Zero Targets

Barnet has set two landmark targets: net zero for council operations by 2030, and net zero for the whole borough by 2042. The BarNET ZERO pledge underpins the council’s sustainability work, and the Sustainability Action Plan is being refreshed in 2025/26 to set out the pathway to achieve these goals.

Community Energy Barnet

The council is actively supporting Community Energy Barnet, a community-owned solar initiative. Feasibility studies are under way at eight local sites — including schools — funded by the London Community Energy Fund. Community energy puts the power of clean generation in local hands, keeps revenue in the community, and helps the borough meet its net zero ambitions.

Neighbourhood Sustainability

In 2025/26, a new neighbourhood pilot will launch to support residents with home sustainability improvements, including insulation. The Green Skills Centre is providing retrofit and insulation training, building the local workforce needed to deliver the Warm Homes Plan at scale. An updated ECO energy efficiency programme has already delivered more than 8,000 measures to Barnet households since 2013.