Key partnership facts
Key partnership facts
Overview
The Zero Carbon Partnership represents a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to reaching net zero carbon emissions. It leverages data-driven insights, secures strategic funding, and applies expert project management to address the complexities of large-scale decarbonisation; setting a benchmark for other local authorities aiming to meet similar challenges.
Borne from a strong and existing collaboration, Equans has delivered comprehensive facilities management (FM) services for the council across its diverse portfolio of 258 public buildings and housing estates. Based on the successful delivery of these services over time, coupled with Equans’ extensive expertise in the global decarbonisation movement, Equans was selected to lead Manchester City Council’s efforts towards Net Zero.
The holistic approach drives energy efficiency across the council’s public building estate to enable the council to meet its carbon ‘budget’, (which stood at 126,336 tonnes for the five years from 2020 to 2025). The strategy simultaneously addresses several key challenges: fragmented asset data, lack of integrated planning, and limited access to decarbonisation funding.
Our work
The Zero Carbon Partnership process
The process began with extensive asset data collection to identify the highest gas and electricity consuming sites. This enabled Equans to develop tailored heat decarbonisation plans for each building, integrating these with existing lifecycle capital replacement schedules. This approach ensured the right interventions were delivered at the optimal point in each asset’s life; minimising waste, maximising efficiency, and embedding long-term energy performance improvements. Each site was subject to detailed energy and building fabric modelling, identifying specific energy saving measures tailored to each building’s operational profile and physical characteristics.
By aligning interventions with lifecycle replacement schedules, the project maximised both financial and carbon savings while minimising embodied carbon and avoiding premature asset replacement. Immediate energy savings were prioritised through building fabric improvements, system upgrades, and technology integration, including heat pumps, Solar PV panels, BMS upgrades, insulation, and LED lighting. Clear financial models were established to align internal capital resources with external funding opportunities, notably securing over £4m through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS).
Delivery of projects and implementation of smart technology
Following the consultancy phase, Equans managed the design and delivery of decarbonisation projects, replacing outdated assets with zero-carbon alternatives. These projects integrated technologies such as air source heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting, and building management system (BMS) upgrades. To date, seven sites have been decarbonised, delivering 500 tonnes of CO2 savings annually, including a 40.2-tonne annual reduction at Harpurhey District Office and a 208.25-tonne annual reduction at the Arbeta Office, as well as £20m in capital delivery. With 150 sites now having Heat Decarbonisation Plans in place and seven more sites now progressing through to delivery, the strategy remains dynamic, enabling further waves of delivery to get underway as funding is secured.
Impact
Reducing environmental impact
Equans is actively working to minimise the environmental impact of managing the council’s property portfolio. A key initiative in this effort is the introduction of a Zero Carbon Charter, which outlines actionable strategies to support the council’s carbon reduction commitments. This includes raising awareness, educating the workforce on sustainable practices, upskilling employees in decarbonisation technologies, and adopting innovative tools such as drone-based thermal imaging to enhance energy efficiency.
Supporting a greener, more prosperous city
This collaboration is also closely aligned with Manchester’s Community Strategy, supporting local priorities such as job creation, social welfare, and innovation. Social value is integral to the Zero Carbon Partnership, with Equans dedicating 735 volunteering hours annually to address local needs. The company has successfully delivered several impactful social value projects, including the renovation of Didsbury Village War Memorial, alongside initiatives aimed at employment and skills development in collaboration with local schools, community groups, and charities. This approach is fully aligned with Manchester City Council’s vision for a thriving, sustainable, and equitable city, positioning Manchester as a leader in the journey towards a zero-carbon future by 2025.
Economic impact
Equans is committed to supporting the local economy by prioritising local procurement and investing in Manchester’s supply chain. In 2024, the Zero Carbon Partnership contributed £2.6 million to the local supply chain, while the wider partnership with Manchester City Council delivered a total local spend of £12.3 million. This targeted investment not only drives economic growth in the region but also strengthens small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), fostering job creation and community development.
Outcomes
The Zero Carbon Partnership has delivered substantial results, making a measurable impact on Manchester City Council’s journey to net zero emissions:
- Seven public buildings have been fully decarbonised, removing gas heating and achieving estimated annual savings of 500 tonnes of CO2 . These interventions have also delivered significant energy demand reductions, saving approximately 2,978,588kWh/year of gas across the estate
- £20m capital investment delivered, supported by £4m in secured external grant funding
- More than two-thirds of the operational estate has Heat Decarbonisation Plans in place. Surveying and specifications have also been completed for 12,500 residential properties across the council’s housing portfolio, creating a pipeline for future funding
- Significant operational efficiencies achieved through data-led maintenance and reduced reactive repairs
The alignment of decarbonisation with capital replacement cycles has optimised investment timing, avoiding unnecessary early replacement and reducing long-term costs. Intervening at the end-of-life points on assets, maximises energy efficiency improvements while minimising capital expenditure - delivering better value compared to traditional retrofit approaches.
Testimonials
"As a council, we’re driven by ambitious goals: to not only achieve decarbonisation in our city but also to foster a thriving and interconnected community where residents can truly thrive. Our partnership with Equans has been instrumental. Their innovative Facilities Management strategies have surpassed our expectations, seamlessly aligning with our vision of sustainability. Their strategic approach to decarbonisation has delivered tangible results, inspiring us with the potential of what can be achieved within the realms of local government. Additionally, we have been consistently impressed by their impact on our community’s aspirations. Together, we’re transforming Manchester into a zero-carbon city by 2038, showcasing the boundless opportunities that emerge when public and private sectors join forces."
Steve Southern, Head of Facilities Management, Manchester City Council
"Our partnership with Equans has enabled us to deliver new approaches to neighbourhood regeneration to achieve net-zero. It has allowed us to develop new financial models to attract the finance we need to deliver at the scale that we need to deliver to meet our targets. Equans’ expertise on energy systems and place based regeneration projects has allowed us to position our net zero programme in the context of neighbourhood regeneration-type projects. Working with Equans has allowed us to develop new financial models which are important for us to attract the finance that we need to deliver at the scale that we need to deliver net zero."
Mark Duncan, Strategy lead Resources & Programmes City Policy, Manchester City Council
Our expertise
Equans supports businesses, communities and the public sector by mobilising its expertise to provide low-carbon energy solutions, offer cutting-edge technical and FM services and transformative regeneration across the UK & Ireland.
