
Creating a greener future for Alston Moor
The Alston Moor Greenprint was a three-year project led by CAfS to create a sustainable future for the area, with practical actions and solutions embedded within the new Alston Moor Community Plan 2019 – 2025 developed by the Alston Moor Partnership (AMP).
The Greenprint project was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. It began in November 2016 and ran until February 2020.
About Alston Moor Greenprint
The overriding ethos of Greenprint was to work strategically with community groups and local councils to support low-carbon development of the area, which faces major long-term challenges:
- a dwindling and ageing population
- cuts to statutory services and transport links
- a lack of local employment and opportunities
- threats to schools and health services
- high levels of fuel poverty due to the old traditional stone homes that many residents live in
“The project was always very much part of the bigger picture for developments on Alston Moor. It was never intended as a standalone project that would end with the funding – rather a key element in a wholeplace approach.” Roe Baker – Alston Moor Greenprint Project Manager, CAfS
What the Greenprint explored
The Greenprint was led and driven by the community, based on evidenced gathered through consultation and engagement. Here are some of the aspects of life explored during the project:
- Recycling and Repair
- Community Food Growing and Enterprise
- Energy Efficiency in Community Buildings
- Domestic Energy Efficiency
- Community Energy
- Energy-efficient Community-led Housing
- Art and Climate Change
The Greenprint focused on making a difference to people’s day-to-day quality of life, creating long-term benefit to the local economy and mitigating the effects of climate change.
We had a collective vision for Alston Moor
A community ready to face the challenges that national and global politics throw at it, with policies in place through community-led planning to mitigate the effects of climate change and benefit the community.
A strong, self-sufficient community growing their own food and benefiting from their own sources of community renewable energy, with warm homes, lower fuel bills and zero fuel poverty.
A place where green businesses thrive, sharing resources and using green waste policies
A place where innovation sits beside tradition, where eco-friendly new homes touch shoulders with older buildings that have been well insulated and retrofitted for energy efficiency.
A safe place that young families want to move to, where people can set up green businesses or take public transport / shared transport to work, or where they can work efficiently from home.
An area with awards for green tourism, activities and events linked to the landscape, local food produce, green energy and heritage.
A place that other communities can contact and visit for advice, and where we can offer a replicable and realistic model of sustainable development.
Reporting in
Our reports from year 1 and year 2 of the Greenprint are a great summary of everything we’ve done:
Explore the Greenprint more
The people of Alston Moor came together to shape the Greenprint, sharing their views and their vision for the area.
Alston Moor started ongoing Repair Cafes through the Greenprint project.
The development of community energy schemes was supported through the Greenprint.
The community on Alston Moor is looking at how low-energy buildings could meet the local need for affordable housing and work space, kickstarted by the Greenprint.
The Oaklea Trust is working with a committed community working group, including a representative from the Greenprint, to develop the site of Alston Old Primary School.
The community on Alston Moor set up a new recycling group on Facebook, sharing information on everything from activism and recycling to ‘make do and mend’, swaps and news items. A free and easy way to get people connected.
Greenprint news
CAfS Annual Report 2019-2020
We are delighted to announce that our annual report for the financial year of 2019-2020 is finished and now available to download from our website. As we've been adapting to the unique challenges of the most recent year, one of those challenges has been to look back beyond last [...]
Alston residents asked for views on housing
A survey has just gone out on Alston Moor to understand the area’s housing needs, supported by CAfS’ Greenprint programme. The survey asks residents about their homes and how well they meet their different needs, both now and into the future. It explores whether homes are fit to live [...]
Target reached for Alston school solar crowdfund
The solar dreams of Alston schools have come true after a crowdfunding campaign raised the money needed for a 27 kW solar PV array. The campaign was run by Alston Moor Community Energy (AMCE) and marks the group's first successful installation of renewable energy in the area. It raised [...]
About our funder and key partner
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. They do this by funding the charitable work of organisations with the ideas and ability to achieve positive change. The Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK. They make grants of £30-35 million annually towards a wide range of work within the arts, children and young people, the environment, social change and food. They also commit up to £35 million in social investments in organisations that aim to deliver both a financial return and a social benefit. Find out more at www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk.
Alston Moor Partnership aims to ensure that our small community can flourish as a place to live and work. Informed by the Community Plan, we aim to further the wellbeing of all members of the community. One of the key ways we do this is through successful grant applications for projects which benefit Alston Moor.
Visit the Alston Moor Partnership website for more information >>