Page 62 • The HERALD • 18th April 2024 v SEND ALL YOUR NEWS TO THE HERALD v ASK A PROFESSIONAL Barratt Homes Announces Membership of First Major Decarbonisation Collaboration to Reduce South’s Emissions Barratt Homes’ Southampton Division has announced its membership of e Solent Cluster, the rst major decarbonisation initiative to substantially reduce CO2 emissions from industry, transport and households across the Solent and the south coast of England. e Solent Cluster is a cross-sector collaboration of international organisations, including manufacturers and engineering companies, regional businesses and industries, leading logistics and infrastructure operators and academic institutions, with decades of proven expertise in carbon capture and storage and hydrogen technology. e Solent region has the capacity to potentially capture and safely store up to 10 million tonnes of CO2 annually as part of the project’s ambitions. Its strategic location and existing infrastructure make it the South’s only opportunity to secure a lower carbon economy at scale. e leading developer is joining nearly 120 members as part of the Cluster alongside founding members the Solent Partners global energy provider ExxonMobil and University of Southampton. e founding members have each shared details of their vision for the Solent and how it could secure existing jobs and produce low-carbon fuels for sectors including maritime and aviation, as well as providing energy to heat homes, businesses, and public buildings. is e ort could position the Solent at the centre of low carbon fuel production in the UK and make a major contribution to the country’s Net Zero ambitions by 2050. James Dunne, Barratt Homes Managing Director, said: “As a business that is striving to become the UK’s leading sustainable housebuilder, we share The Solent Cluster’s vision for a low carbon future and are delighted to be part of a collective contribution to the country’s journey to net zero. We are also passionate about inspiring the next generation of workers to fulfil exciting roles that will help contribute towards building greener projects. As part of this important collaboration, we’ll be working closely with schools, colleges, and other education facilities to provide training for young people interested in a sustainable career pathway. We’ll offer funding for workshops and other practical sessions outside a traditional classroom setting, designed to help students thrive.” In a recent socioeconomic report released by the Cluster, it con rmed over 70,000 jobs could be secured, including the creation of over 18,900 new skilled jobs as part of a potential £11.9bn economic boost for the Solent region. e Cluster also has the potential of over £4.4 billion gross value added to the economy by 2035. Anne-Marie Mounti eld, Chair of e Solent Cluster said, “I’m delighted to welcome Barratt Homes to The Solent Cluster to work with us to achieve a low carbon economic future for the Solent region. Decarbonisation will be a catalyst for transformative change as we seek to propel the region into a new era of sustainable growth. The importance of identifying the potential for thousands of new jobs and billions in investment, cannot be underestimated.” Barratt Homes is committed to sustainability and has maintained its position as the ‘Leading National Sustainable Housebuilder’ in the industry speci c NextGeneration awards, receiving the “Gold Award” for the eighth consecutive year, as well as the “Crystal Award”, for Transparency, for a fourth year. e developer is building energy-e cient new homes across the region. Barratt Homes is building sustainable homes across Hampshire
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