One of Community Health Partnerships (CHP) five key aims is to ‘deliver sustainable infrastructure offering safe, flexible, well-used and welcoming spaces’. As head tenant of 308 healthcare buildings in England, we are committed to creating efficient, sustainable, and resilient healthcare spaces. Our CHP Green Plan, published in 2022, outlines our roadmap to net zero emissions, aligning with the NHS goal of becoming the world’s first net zero health system.
Building on this foundation, we have developed a comprehensive Net Zero Delivery Plan for 2023-28, outlining key actions to drive tangible change. We continue to work in partnership with our tenants, LIFTCos and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to deliver a Greener NHS (www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/)
Key Sustainability Activities for 2024/25
An Updated CHP Green Plan in 2025
The team at CHP will be updating our Green Plan with a renewed focus on key areas to address emissions arising from our LIFT estate and corporate functions.
Read: CHP Green Plan – a greener CHP, a greener NHS (PDF)
LIFTCo Partnerships supporting sustainability
We will continue to assess climate change and the adaptation needs of our LIFT estate aligning with our net zero aims targeting projects and interventions.
We will continue to carry out decarbonisation audits at our sites and take action to reduce emissions.
Partnership working across CHP teams
In 2024/25, CHP teams will continue to champion sustainability initiatives across the organisation. Here are some key highlights:
- Optimising Building Efficiency:
In 2024/25 the CHP Technical Services team will continue this nationwide project, working alongside the Property and Operations team and tenants to identify operational issues within healthcare buildings. This collaborative approach is reducing energy inefficiencies, lowering tenant costs, and improve the working environment for NHS staff. We have taken on additional staff in 2024 to accelerate this project. - Integrating Net Zero Standards:
The CHP Developments team partnered with the Sustainability Team to develop a comprehensive Sustainability Impact Assessment tool. This ensures that Net Zero Building Standards are integrated into development projects and variations, future-proofing CHP’s healthcare infrastructure. - Empowering Data-Driven Decisions:
In collaboration with the CHP Digital team, an innovative energy dashboard will be launched in 2025. This will empower informed decision-making by providing enhanced data granularity for more effective energy management, reporting, and monitoring across CHP’s healthcare portfolio.
Understand building energy consumption in greater detail, will allow us to identify anomalies and efficiencies. - Sustainability Forums for CHP staff:
We will continue to hold sustainability forums and workshops for CHP staff in 2024/25, bringing together Property and Operations teams to discuss and explain key sustainability themes across CHP activities. Topics include electric vehicle charging, optimising building energy efficiency, understanding DECS and EPCs, green spaces and biodiversity, and waste and recycling. This initiative builds on the regular regional forums in 2023/24 led by the CHP Sustainability team.
Biodiversity and green space projects in 2024/25
CHP is committed to enhancing green spaces and biodiversity across our estate. By partnering with charities, social enterprises, and volunteer groups, we’re creating healthier and more welcoming environments for patients, staff and the local community. To foster a greater connection with nature, we encourage staff and patients to participate in gardening activities. We’re also supporting wildlife by:
- Installing bird feeders and nesting boxes.
- Adding bug hotels and log piles.
- Supporting gardening activities for patients and staff as part of local social prescribing projects and supporting our social value project Buildings at the Heart of the Community across CHP sites.
Supporting Sustainability in CHPs supply chain
CHP will continue to embed sustainability throughout our supply chain. By building strong relationships with our contractors and suppliers we will work to reduce emissions from services and resources. We will measure, monitor and report progress in 2024/25.
Sustainable health care: Cleaning, Waste and Soft FM services
Sustainability and net zero requirements are integrated into all the new soft FM contracts beginning in 2024/25, for services CHP manages on behalf of tenants. This includes emission reduction and resource efficiency initiatives in the new cleaning and waste services contracts. We will make waste reduction, minimisation and circularity part of ‘business as usual’ activities at CHP buildings.
Supporting Sustainable Travel and Transport
We have plans for more electric car charging points, bike storage and encouraging sustainable transport at our primary care buildings. Working with tenants and exploring local opportunities. By working closely with local LIFTCo teams, tenants, and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), we will understand and contribute to decarbonising travel and transport locally and regionally.
To discuss EV charging options for your site, please contact the CHP Custainability team.
Renewable Energy Generation Projects
The Sustainability team at CHP will continue to support renewable energy generation projects. Some projects are due to be completed in 2024/25.
Exploring Funding Options for Net Zero Projects
CHP teams will continue to review financing and funding options for net zero projects working with our LIFTCo colleagues, local ICS teams and tenants.
National partnerships supporting sustainability
CHP is a key member of the HM Government Property Function Property Sustainability Board, bringing expertise and experience together across the public sector estate.
The CHP Sustainability team meets with the NHS England Estates and Facilities team and NHS Property Services Sustainability and Net Zero team monthly to discuss projects, issues and plans for the future of the healthcare estate.
CHP is proud to play its part in delivering national projects with NHS England including a Greener NHS (www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs) and working with Active Travel England. We are confident that by working together, we can create a more sustainable and healthy future for the NHS.
Read: Government Property Sustainability Strategy 2022-30 (November 2022)
Sustainability training for tenants
CHP is committed to supporting tenants on their sustainability journey.
Tenants can access Sustainability resources via E-learning for Healthcare (www.e-lfh.org.uk/). Course information and sign-up details are available below:
- Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Courses including ‘Building a Net Zero NHS’:
e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/environmentally-sustainable-healthcare/ - HealthCare Waste Management and Disposal:
e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/healthcare-waste-management-and-disposal/
Energy and waste education programmes for tenants are supported by ORMs and via BUG meetings.
Greener NHS updates
Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service (Oct 2020 and updated July 2022)
NHS Net zero travel and transport strategy (October 2023)
NHS Supply Chain Sustainability: www.supplychain.nhs.uk/sustainability
- NHS Clinical Waste Strategy (March 2023)
- (HTM) 07-01: Safe and Sustainable Management of Healthcare Waste (updated Nov 2023)
- Technical Guidance WM3: Waste Classification – Guidance on the classification and assessment of waste
CHP Green Plan - a greener CHP, a greener NHS (PDF)
In 2022 CHP published our 'Green Plan: A Greener CHP a Greener NHS'. We have embedded our Green Plan into our business, committing resources, and supporting staff in taking action to ensure it is a success.
Our Green Plan is helping drive organisational change, supporting our customers with their sustainability ambitions, and working in partnership with LIFTCos and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to deliver a Greener NHS.
We will publish a new Green Plan in 2025.
Contact the sustainability team at CHP
If you are a CHP tenant, an ICS or NHS Trust partner, and want to know how CHP can support your sustainability plans, please contact your local CHP Property and Operations team or the CHP Sustainability team.
If any tenants have questions about Sustainability at CHP, our Green plan or any other net zero project please contact the Sustainability team via sustainability@communityhealthpartnerships.co.uk and copy in the ORM for your building.
Find out more about Sustainability at CHP
As part of the NHS family, CHP supports the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net zero health system. Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims and Sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars. Aligning with the NHS target of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, the team at CHP are committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon for the LIFT estate by 2040 and 2030 for our corporate functions.
