Clean Air Schools Programme Grant Funding Scheme: useful information when making your application

The closing date for full applications for the Clean Air Schools Programme has been extended to 15 March 2024. Please note, if you submit your application after this date, it will not be considered.

We are keen to enable schools to get maximum grant possible for their project. We have created this information pack to help you make the full application.

What you should do next

To help you get ready to complete your application we recommend the following steps:

• Obtain written quotes from reputable companies that will be able to assist you with your scheme. You will need to provide these with your application.
• Obtain plans of your site and sketch out what you intend to provide and where. Your plans should show the location of your site in relation to the nearest roads and footpaths.
• If you are planning a ventilation scheme or new heating system, be prepared to demonstrate where the infrastructure will be installed in the building and where any air inlets and outlets will be placed.
• If you think your scheme may need planning permission have an early conversation with the planning department.
• If your scheme will need on going investment / maintenance think about how this will be funded in the longer term as you will be asked to address this in your application.

What elements are not included in the grant funding.

Unfortunately, we can't fund everything, and this fund won't cover the following:

Projects that don’t meet the main programme aims of improving local air quality and reducing exposure to air pollutants in and around your immediate school environment.

Projects relating to low energy lighting. These are an excellent way of reducing your school’s impact on global climate change but are unlikely to improve air quality directly outside your school so fall outside the remit of this grant programme.

Projects that involve the use of wood burning such as installation of biomass boilers or outdoor activities that include cooking or making crafts using open fires or similar.

Projects aimed primarily at supporting pollinators or growing food, such as introduction of wildflower gardens or vegetable patches. These are fantastic schemes for schools to support but are outside the scope of this grant scheme. You may be able to access support for planting from other schemes such as Grow Wild or Seed parade.

Tree / shrub planting schemes unless they are being planted specifically to create a natural green barrier between children and busy main roads / car parks. If you are planning a green wall or similar, please see the enclosed advice on this issue to maximise your chance of a successful grant application.

EV charging facilities – are eligible for other forms of support and therefore cannot be funded via the CASP programme.

Any EV charging proposals for schools and potential funding streams can be explored further by contacting the energy team at BEEnergy@bradford.gov.uk. 

The team will need the following information:

• Is the school a Bradford Council School?
• Is the school on the YPO Electricity contract?
• How many charging points being considered?
• Where would you want to locate them?
• Who would be able to access them? And when?
• Whether you would consider providing access for use by members of the public?
• How will power be provided, from the buildings supply or is a new electrical connection required from Northern Power Grid?

On going running and maintenance costs of any new scheme or equipment you introduce at your site. This is a capital only grant fund. Please ensure any facilities you intend to develop can be maintained in the longer term and this is evidenced in your application.

VAT you can re-cover.

Any cost associated with obtaining planning permission or building regulation approvals for your project.

Using green infrastructure to reduce exposure to air pollution.

Providing 'green infrastructure' in the form of trees or large shrubs may seem like an attractive option for reducing pollution exposure at your school but unless it is carefully planned and thought through it could make the situation worse and have significant ongoing cost associated with it.

Here are some points to consider when planning green infrastructure projects:

• Any green barrier you try to create will need to be dense, especially at the height where the exposure is taking place.
• Trees grow quickly and may soon reach a height where they are ineffective barriers.
• A hedge may be more effective in the longer term, but it needs to be high enough to prevent pollutants dispersing over it and may take a long time to mature into an effective density and height.
• A low-level flowerbed will be ineffective as a pollution barrier.

If people need to walk on both sides of your green barrier, you could make the situation worse for those walking next to the road to get to your entrance. Think about where pedestrians are likely to be in relation to your barrier when planning your green infrastructure.

• You also need to think about the prevailing wind direction. A barrier will be most effective where the source of pollution is directly downwind of the barrier.
• Some plants naturally produce high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can react in the atmosphere to form more pollutants. If planning a green wall use plants or trees with low VOC emissions. Oak, aspen and willow trees should be avoided as these are known to have high natural VOC emissions.
• Evergreen plants generally make better pollution screens because they have leaves on all year round, but some evergreen species can also have high VOC emissions.
• Rather than planting directly into the ground it may be better to install a solid structure within which specialist pollution removing plants can be grown. These are generally known as ‘green walls’. They are likely to be more expensive to install and maintain but need less time to mature and are less likely to emit harmful pollutants.
• Some species grown on green walls may spread to other areas of your site where they are less desirable, for example mosses and lichens are good at removing pollutants but can become a nuisance if they spread to walls and drains.
• If considering a green infrastructure project other issues to consider are:
  • Potential for blocking of light to your building and neighbouring premises.
  • Cost of regular pruning / leaf debris.
  • Potential for roots to damage drains and paving.
  • Potential for increased pollen / spores which may have implications for people with allergies on your site.

Grant application requirements for green infrastructure schemes

All grant applications for green infrastructure should as a minimum include:

• A single site plan detailing:
  • planned location of the planting / green wall on your site.
  • location of the nearest roads to your site.
  • location of pedestrian access routes to your site.
  • location of play areas / sports facilities where children are regularly present.
  • prevailing wind direction.
• A list of all plant species you will be planting and the reasons why these species have been chosen should be included.
• A costed maintenance schedule for the infrastructure and details of how this will be funded.

You may need to apply for planning permission to make significant changes to the appearance of your boundary, especially if your site is within conservation area. Your application should indicate if your proposal is likely to be subject to any planning constraints and whether or not you have already discussed this with the planning department. We are unable to fund the cost of any planning applications required to support your project.

Useful further background reading for green infrastructure

• Defra document on effect of vegetation on urban air pollution (PDF)

Relevant guidance

Make sure you check out any relevant national guidance out there for best practice ideas before you design your project. We can’t provide information on everything you might apply for here but an example is:

• Bike shelters guidance and other bike infrastructure guidance can be found here.

If you have any questions or concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about your application and want check with our team about certain elements, please email us: Cleanairschools@bradford.gov.uk