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NHS Property Services has reduced carbon emissions by 5.2 per cent in 2025/26, exceeding its annual target and continuing to drive large‑scale energy efficiency and decarbonisation across the NHS estate.
As one of the largest NHS landlords, responsible for around 10 per cent of the NHS estate, NHS Property Services plays a key role in decarbonising healthcare infrastructure. Its Green Plan and Net Zero Carbon Strategy set out a clear pathway to achieving Net Zero by 2040, aligned with national NHS targets.
NHS Property Services says progress has been driven by targeted investment in energy efficiency, low‑carbon heating, renewable energy and advanced building systems across community healthcare settings.
At Royal South Hants Hospital, NHS Property Services supported the installation of the NHS’s largest heat pump, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and demonstrating that low‑carbon heating can be delivered at scale within complex hospital environments. At Torrington Place Health Centre in North London, modern, energy‑efficient systems have improved energy and carbon performance while maintaining operational resilience and patient safety. In Leeds, decarbonisation works at Kirkstall Health Centre have reduced energy demand, extended asset life and improved internal environments for staff and patients.
Alongside delivery across its own estate, NHS Property Services is also supporting system‑wide progress towards Net Zero through collaboration and sector leadership.
On 23 April, NHS Property Services hosted a webinar, Challenge to Change: Driving Net Zero Strategy in the NHS, chaired by Nick Macdonald Smith, Net Zero Carbon Lead. The session brought together experts from across the NHS, industry, sustainability and academia to explore how Net Zero ambition can be turned into practical, scalable delivery.
Discussions focused on strategic planning, funding, retrofit delivery and the capabilities needed to decarbonise healthcare estates at scale, reflecting strong interest across the NHS in moving from strategy to action. The session reinforced that while the challenge is substantial, meaningful progress is already underway, and that clear planning, collaboration and value‑led investment are key to accelerating delivery.
NHS Property Services is embedding sustainability as standard across new and refurbished health centres, including:
- High‑performance building fabric and insulation
- LED lighting and smart building management systems
- On‑site renewable technologies, including solar PV
- Energy‑efficient heating and ventilation
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Climate resilience and biodiversity measures
These interventions are underpinned by robust data capture, performance monitoring and detailed carbon reporting, supporting informed decision‑making and scalable carbon‑reduction initiatives across the NHS estate.
Macdonald Smith said: “Exceeding our carbon reduction target shows what can be achieved when sustainability is embedded into estate strategy and delivery. From large‑scale heat pump installations to practical decarbonisation works in community health centres, we are demonstrating how Net Zero can be delivered in real, operational healthcare environments. The level of engagement in our recent sector webinar shows how committed NHS organisations are to sharing learning and accelerating progress together.”
