Dealing with the climate crisis and reaching carbon neutrality is the city council’s overarching priority. Recent extreme weather events have demonstrated urgent action is needed to avoid catastrophic climate change and the associated nature crisis.

We all need to play our part in tackling this challenge and hand our district to our children and grandchildren in a better state than it is now.

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE:

• Winchester City Council to be carbon neutral by 2024
• The Winchester district to be carbon neutral by 2030
• Reduced energy demand and an increase in local renewable energy
• Highly insulated homes with low energy bills
• Homes and businesses protected against extreme climate events
• Reduced levels of waste and increased recycling, exceeding national targets
• Cleaner air than national targets
• Everything most residents need in reach by foot, bike or public transport
• Our district’s natural habitats are safeguarded and enhanced

We want all residents to live healthy and fulfilled lives, to feel safe and secure in their neighbourhood, and enjoy the recreational and cultural opportunities that the district offers.

We want to ensure the district offers the right facilities to support good physical and mental health for all ages and abilities.

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE:

• Support for those most affected by the cost of living
• Reduced health inequalities, tackling the environmental, financial and housing problems that most affect those with the biggest health challenges
• Attractive public spaces where people feel safe and secure
• Well-used and maintained public facilities and green spaces with space to play
• A wide range of physical and cultural activities for all ages and abilities
• Increased opportunities for active travel
• Close work with local charities and voluntary organisations helping those most in need

Housing in our district is expensive and young people and families often struggle to find and retain suitable accommodation they can afford, particularly at a time when costs are rising steeply. 

We are focused on providing homes for all in the Winchester district – homes that are affordable, sustainable, with low energy usage and low bills, and built in the right areas for our changing communities.

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE:

• More young people and families living and working in our district
• All homes to be energy efficient and affordable to run 
• Diverse, healthy and cohesive communities - not just homes
• Increasing the availability of housing for young people and key workers
• Support to help people stay in their homes
• No-one sleeping rough, except by choice

Our urban and rural areas are home to a host of successful businesses and enterprises. Following the pandemic, employment levels remain high but fresh challenges now face our business community.

The changing face of the high street, increasing costs, labour shortages and tackling climate change are forcing businesses to quickly adapt.

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE:

• A stronger, greener, more sustainable local economy
• New and renovated offices and workspaces to meet changing business needs in areas with sustainable transport links
• More young people choosing to live and work in the district
• Our city, market towns and rural areas all have a distinctive and competitive offer
• Existing businesses are supported and new and relocating businesses attracted

We will continue to provide high quality, good value, resilient services that are continuously improving to address the changing needs and expectations of residents, tenants, visitors, businesses and not-for-profit organisations across our district – and are accessible to all whatever their circumstances.

We will give all our residents the opportunity to make their voice heard and be able to understand how the council makes its decisions.

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE:

• An open, transparent, inclusive and enabling council
• Improved satisfaction for our services
• Good value compared to other similar authorities
• Continuous improvement in cost-effectiveness
• High accessibility and usage of our services
• Constructive and effective partnerships across the district
• A balanced budget and stable council finances