Staff from Solihull Council’s Highway Infrastructure team and contractors Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) are celebrating after scooping an international award for carbon reduction.
Last year they picked up a prestigious national Green Apple Champion award for carbon reduction. Following their success, they then went forward to the international round and have been awarded the Green World Awards 2023 carbon reduction global gold winner trophy.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said: “Both our staff and our contractors worked incredibly hard to improve 69 km of existing paths and cycle routes plus 23 km of new footways across the borough through our Wildlife Ways project.
“These paths and routes mean that leaving the car at home and travelling by bicycle or on foot is a safer and more enjoyable option for residents and visitors, helping to reduce our carbon emissions.
“We are aiming to become a net zero carbon emission borough by 2041 so I am delighted that this work has been recognised with an international gold award for carbon reduction and I would like to congratulate all the staff and contractors who made it possible.”
Jo Dryden, Area Director, Balfour Beatty Living Places added: “Wildlife Ways has made a positive contribution in developing active, connected communities, which is testament to the design, construction and stakeholder engagement from the outset.
“Its success has been brought about through the commitment to collaboration from all parties, ensuring that we met Solihull Council’s sustainability outcomes.
“A Global Green World Award is the culmination of the vision, effort and teamwork for everyone involved, I am immensely proud of what has been achieved in delivering this project.”
Alongside the global gold award, the team has also just won best project and Team of the Year for their work on Fillongley Bridge at the CIHT West Midlands Awards and IHE Mercia Branch Awards and won highly commended Sustainable Transport Project for the Blossomfield Road Cycle Route at the IHE Awards. They have also been shortlisted for several other awards for their work on the Blossomfield Road cycle route, Fillongley Bridge and property flood resilience.
Wildlife Ways was a £16.8 million project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.