Oxford and Cambridge achieved the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) compared with other major cities in England and Wales over the last 10 years and at the same time both locations significantly exceeded their housing delivery targets, according to research produced by LandTech.
The company analysed the latest Office for National Statistics GHG reporting data covering the period 2010 to 2020 and found Oxford had enjoyed the largest percentage reduction (44%) in GHG emissions over the last decade, with Leeds posting the lowest reduction (34%).
Cambridge was the best performing city in terms of total GHG emitted accounting for 459 tonnes in 2020, compared with 801 tonnes recorded in 2010. Oxford ranked second with 560 tonnes of total emissions, compared with 1,007 tonnes in 2010.
At the same time both cities far exceeded their housing delivery targets, according to the latest published Housing Delivery Test figures, with Cambridge delivering 2,140 homes versus a target of 1,612 for the period 2018-2019 to 2020-21 and Oxford, which only had a target of 88 new homes, delivering 1,879 homes.
Jonny Britton, co-founder of LandTech, said: “Despite being knowingly well-funded cities – not least thanks to boom industries such education and technology/life sciences – both university towns have proven its possible for population and housing delivery to significantly increase while reducing harmful greenhouse gases. Both cities have a track record for smart planning and investment in critical infrastructure which must act as an example to the rest of the UK.”
