The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is supporting projects including heat pumps, solar PV, and lower-carbon heating systems, but early planning and design work will be key to turning funding into deliverable projects.
Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is supporting projects across the 2025/26 to 2027/28 financial years, with more than £816m allocated nationally. Around half of the funding has been awarded to NHS bodies.
The investment comes as the NHS works towards becoming the world’s first net zero health service for the emissions it directly controls by 2040. Energy use across the estate remains one of the main areas of focus, particularly where trusts are retrofitting existing hospital buildings while keeping services running.
Many of these projects will need early planning input, particularly where works involve new plant, heat pumps, solar panels, EV charging points or other infrastructure on live hospital sites.
Jonathan Standen, a planning director at Lichfields, said: “Funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is giving NHS trusts the chance to make real progress on lower-carbon estates. The next step is making sure those projects can be delivered smoothly on sites that are often complex, constrained and operational every day.
“Planning is not a barrier to that process, but it does need to be considered early. The right consent route, early engagement with the local planning authority and a clear understanding of site constraints can make a significant difference to how quickly projects move forward.
“For trusts, the strongest position is usually one where the planning strategy is developed alongside the technical and funding work, rather than after the main decisions have already been made.
“Trusts are under pressure to reduce emissions while continuing to provide critical services. Good planning can help them do both, by making sure the practical issues are worked through early and the right route to consent is identified.”