Community Health Partnerships (CHP) is committed to supporting sustainability within the NHS. This commitment extends across our 308 healthcare buildings, which we aim to make as efficient, sustainable, and resilient as possible.
Published in 2022, our CHP Green Plan outlines the path to Net Zero for both the LIFT estate and our corporate functions. As part of the NHS family, our CHP Green Plan aligns with the NHS’s ambition to be the world’s first net-zero health system, creating a Greener NHS.
Our CHP 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.
In 2025, CHP will be refreshing our Green Plan to reflect the new NHS 10-year Plan. A comprehensive CHP Net Zero Delivery Plan 2023-28 has been published, outlining key actions.
2024-25 sustainability progress
National partnerships supporting sustainability
CHP is a key HM Government Property Function Property Sustainability Board member, bringing expertise and experience together across the public sector estate.
CHP is proud to play its part in delivering national projects with NHS England, including working on Greener NHS initiatives (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:
- CHP supports a Greener NHS for Earth Day 2024 (19 April 2024)
- CHP champions reducing air pollution for Clean Air Day 2024 (20 June 2024)
Partnership working across CHP teams
In 2024/25, Community Health Partnerships continued to champion sustainability initiatives across the organisation, fostering a collaborative environment to achieve a Greener NHS and support the NHS’s net-zero ambitions. Here are some key highlights:
- Sustainability Impact Assessment Tool
The CHP Developments team partnered with the Sustainability Team on a comprehensive Sustainability Impact Assessment tool. This ensures that Net Zero Building standards are integrated into all development projects and remodelling plans, future-proofing CHP’s healthcare infrastructure. - Climate Change Risk Dashboard
In collaboration with the Digital team, the Sustainability team at CHP have created a climate change assessment dashboard. Using Met Office data and Environment Agency data, we can assess the risk posed by the changing climate, plan adaptations, and instigate mitigation actions. The dashboard is available via our intranet for the CHP Sustainability team, working with CHP Property and Operations colleagues.
CHP supporting sustainability
Energy Advice
CHP partners with LIFTCos to understand their Net Zero goals and ensure alignment and progression with our own goals. Energy consumption at CHP sites is the largest contributor to our portfolio carbon footprint and makes up a significant amount of our tenants’ occupancy charges. We work closely with our landlords’ service provider colleagues to improve efficiency and optimise energy performance across the CHP estate.
The Technical Services team at CHP support energy savings and provide guidance
Targeting sites with high energy consumption, the technical services team have continued their drive for energy efficiency and optimising building performance across CHP’s property portfolio.
Examples include:
- reducing boiler low temperatures
- ensuring building management systems are aligned to building operational times
- optimising air handling units
- supporting lifecycle upgrades
- providing guidance and support to LIFTCo FM colleagues.
Some CHP buildings have realised more than 400 hours of energy saving per month.
- Continuation of LED light upgrades across the property portfolio
- Heat network opportunities
Working with local authorities and public sector bodies, CHP are engaged with several heat network projects across England. - Decarbonisation Audits In conjunction with LIFTCos, the team are identifying priority sites and designing bespoke plans and solutions.
- In May 2024, the CHP Sustainability team delivered Carbon Literacy training to staff at the Eric Wright Group – a key partner across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
The collaborative approach aims to reduce energy inefficiencies, lower tenant costs, and improve the working environment for NHS staff.
Read: Energy saving tips for CHP tenants (September 2024)
Sustainable health care
Sustainability and net-zero requirements are integrated into the Soft FM contract procurements in 2024/25 for services that CHP manages on behalf of tenants, including cleaning, security, and waste services.
Simpler Recycling
The CHP Contracts, Sustainability and the Property and Operations teams supported the implementation of new recycling legislation in early 2025. The ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation came into effect on 1 April 2025 as part of DEFRA’s (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) waste management reforms.
Read: ‘Simpler Recycling’ from 1 April 2025: What CHP tenants need to know (February 2025).
Tiger bag roll out
All sites where CHP is responsible for waste collection now have an offensive (non – infectious) waste stream.
Recycling to protect the environment
As a key member of the NHS family, CHP recognises our responsibility to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices. By implementing effective recycling programmes, educating CHP and NHS staff, visitors, and patients, we can make a significant contribution to a Greener NHS. Healthcare staff, CHP staff, waste management professionals, and the public all play a part in ensuring that waste produced in our buildings is segregated correctly.
In addition to recyclables like paper, confidential waste paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass and cans, which are already collected at CHP healthcare facilities, many buildings across our 300+ portfolio also recycle textiles, bras, furniture, NHS walking aids, etc.
Read:
- Recycle Week 2024: Community Health Partnerships joins the national campaign to save recycling from the bin (October 2024)
- Recycling projects at south west CHP buildings reduces landfill supporting a Greener NHS (18/3/25) for Global Recycling Day
Renewable Energy
As a key member of the NHS family, Community Health Partnerships is committed to supporting the NHS’s ambitious goal of achieving a net-zero health service. Renewable energy projects play a pivotal role in this transition, and CHP is well-positioned to champion their implementation across our 308 healthcare buildings. We can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and minimise the environmental footprint of our primary care healthcare facilities. This contributes to a Greener NHS helping to provide the best possible care for our patients.
CHP works with our LIFTco partners to implement energy efficiency projects across the 300+ building portfolio.
Marfleet Primary Healthcare Centre has photovoltaic panels installed on the roof
The health centre had 166 photovoltaic panels installed on the roof during March 2025 funded by CHP. The panels convert sunlight into electricity to produce around 56,000 KWh of energy per year, enough for 62% of the health centre’s energy needs.
As well as providing an annual saving on energy bills of around £9,500, the panels will save 14 tonnes of CO2 a year, reducing the carbon footprint of the building. Over the lifetime of the panels, that’s equivalent to saving the carbon emissions of over 300 long haul flights.
Read: Hull’s Marfleet Health Centre leads LIFT portfolio in Decarbonisation Drive
CHP funding more photovoltaic panels in 2025
Expanding solar energy at Hull LIFT buildings Photovoltaic panels will be added to Newington Health Centre in West Hull and Alexandra Health Care Centre, north of the city centre, during Spring 2025.
Photo voltaic panels will be installed at Foxhill Medical Centre, Sheffield and at three health care centres in north west England during 2025.
There are 72 CHP LIFT buildings with solar panels across the portfolio:
- 37 buildings with photo voltaic panels that produce electricity, including at Foleshill Health Centre.
- 35 buildings with solar thermal panels. These panels are full of water, which is heated by the sun, and flows into the heating system. This avoids heating the water from cold.
Biodiversity projects in 2024/25
We are enhancing access to green space and supporting biodiversity across the CHP estate. We partner with charities, social enterprises, NHS organisation, and volunteer groups to achieve these goals. Often NHS social p prescribing teams support patients at community gardening projects.
- Encouraging staff and patients to participate in gardening activities: This can create a sense of ownership and foster a connection with nature.
- Installing bird feeders and nesting boxes: This provides habitat and food sources for birds, making the area more attractive for them.
- Adding bug hotels or log piles: These structures provide shelter for overwintering insects and other invertebrates.
By implementing these ideas, NHS healthcare centres can create a more welcoming and sustainable environment for patients, staff, and the local wildlife.
CHP funding for Biodiversity Projects for 2024/25
In 2024/25, the CHP Sustainability, Social Value and Property and Operations teams have supported 30+ green projects at our healthcare facilities with funding from CHP.
Our Operations and Relationship Managers (ORMs) facilitate and support biodiversity projects working with LIFTCos and tenants to enhance biodiversity, providing benefits for patients, staff, volunteers, and the environment.
CHP has supported many gardening projects across our buildings, including raised beds, courtyard gardens, vegetable and fruit growing, and wildflower meadows. These initiatives not only enhance the environment but also foster community engagement and support social prescribing activities.
Read:
East Lancashire Projects
Projects and activities are taking place at Chandler House Health Centre Wigan, Briercliffe Road Medical Centre Burnley, St Peters Health Centre in Burnley, Accrington Pals Primary Health Care Centre, Darwen Health Centre, Yarnspinners Primary Health Care Centre in Nelson. CHP and the One Partnership team have purchased seats and picnic tables, raised beds, soil, plants and seeds.
Penntorr Health’s Wellbeing Garden Wins Prestigious NHS Forest Award
The team at Community Health Partnerships are delighted that Penntorr Health’s Wellbeing Garden has been recognised with the prestigious Collaborative Green Space Projects Award at the NHS Forest Awards 2024. This accolade highlights the significant impact of this collaborative project on the health and wellbeing of the local community in Torpoint, Cornwall.
The Wellbeing Garden offers a tranquil retreat for patients, staff, and the wider community. It features a diverse range of plants, including fruit trees, lavender, and other flowering plants and bulbs. A recycled picnic table, donated by Community Health Partnerships, provides a spot for relaxation and contemplation. There is also an information board explaining the plants, butterflies, and birds found in the garden.
This project aligns with CHP’s sustainability goals and the Greener NHS initiative. By creating green spaces and promoting biodiversity, we’re not only improving the environment but also enhancing the wellbeing of our patients, staff, and the local community.
Read: Penntorr Health’s Wellbeing Garden Wins Prestigious NHS Forest Award (November 2024)
Supporting Active and Sustainable Travel
At CHP, we recognise the importance of enabling sustainable and active travel to our sites, including the environmental and health benefits.We have plans for more electric car charging points, bike storage and encouraging sustainable transport at our primary care buildings.
CHP funding bike storage
CHP funding can support the provision of secure bike storage – suitable for the storage of e-bikes and e-scooters. The four sites that received bike sheds for e-bike storage were Long Eaton Health Centre, The Forum Health Centre, The Stone Castle Centre and Truro Health Park.
Read: CHP Sustainability Update for Tenants – Biodiversity and bike shed funding (January 2025)
Electric vehicle charging points
Foleshill Health Centre
At Community Health Partnerships we are proud to have funded and built the £3.3m Foleshill Health Centre (FHC) in Coventry. This pioneering project is the UK’s first Passivhaus Classic certified health centre, achieving the leading international standard for low-energy buildings.
The FHC demonstrates the power of Passivhaus design principles and modern methods of construction (MMC) to deliver high-performance, sustainable healthcare facilities. We utilised a proven MMC approach, partnering with Portakabin to construct the centre from prefabricated modules. This streamlined process significantly reduced build time by 30% compared to traditional methods, taking just 10 months to complete. This rapid construction timeline proved particularly advantageous given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foleshill Health Centre opened its doors to patients in August 2021 delivering this innovative and environmentally friendly healthcare building for the people of Coventry.
Foleshill Case studies:
- Foleshill Health Centre Case study
- Low energy use confirmed at Foleshill Health Centre (April 2023)
- Pioneering Sustainable Healthcare: Lessons from the UK’s First Passivhaus Health Centre (March 2024)e
- Foleshill Health Centre: news and awards archive
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 emebedded our Green Plan into our business, committing resources, supporting staff 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.
Contact the sustainability team at CHP
If you are a tenant, an ICS or Trust partner, and want to know more about how CHP can support your sustainability plans, please contact your local CHP Property and Operations team or our 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.
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.
