Kent looks to green business for growth

Launching its environmental strategy on Friday, Kent County Council (KCC) pledged to make the southeast county the "place of choice" for new investment in green business and jobs.

"We want to develop Kent as a leading location for renewable energy, cleantech and environmental technologies," said KCC leader Paul Carter, as he unveiled 'Growing The Garden of England: A New Strategy for Environment and Economy in Kent’.

Coastal Communities Fund
Kent already has two of the world’s largest wind farms – Kentish Flats and Thanet offshore wind farms – a low carbon engineering and manufacturing base and a rich natural environment heritage, with 440 wildlife sites covering seven per cent of the county. It is now set to benefit from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund (CCF), launched last week. The new multi-million pound fund is designed to support the economic development of coastal communities by supporting a wide range of projects, including environmental ones.

"By recognising the immense opportunities attached to the green economy, we have ensured green industry is central to Kent’s vision for local jobs and future growth," said Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet, where the CCF was launched on Friday.

Green strategy
The Growing The Garden of England strategy document, prepared in consultation with Kent businesses, has three themes: living within the county’s environmental limits, meeting the climate change challenge, and valuing the natural environment.

"I want Kent to be the place of choice for the green industry," said Carter. "We also know that businesses and employees want a high quality environment in which to work. The combination of our 'Garden of England' countryside, excellent transport links to Europe and quality of life are unrivalled. We must continue to safeguard our precious natural environment."

Supply chain
To support its emerging green goods and services sector, KCC has developed a 'Green Chain’ directory to promote local suppliers of emerging green technologies and services. Earlier this year, the council met with around 100 local green businesses to discuss what the low carbon sector needed to grow.

"We’re now acting on what they told us," said Carter. "Our Environment and Economy Strategy and the investment in green business we’re signalling today will directly support new private sector economic growth and jobs."