Oxford is the ‘Greenest City’ in the UK according to new study

Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol top the list of the most sustainable cities

• Manchester is the city with the most Green Buildings

  Expert discusses the importance of Green Buildings for a sustainable future 

A new study from one of the UK’s leading glass manufacturers, Specialist Glass Products, has identified the top most greenest cities in the UK, with Oxford taking the top spot.

The specialist glass manufacturer developed a Green Cities Index¹, ranking the UK’s most sustainable cities based on the number of EV charging stations², number of green buildings³, number of cyclists⁴, air quality forecast⁵ and the rate of recycling in each location⁶. 

According to the SGP Green Cities Index, the top ten most sustainable cities in the UK are:

1. Oxford
2. Cambridge
3. Bristol
4. Dorset
5. Guildford
6. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
7. Wakefield
8. Cherwell
9. Manchester
10. Ealing

The study indicates that Oxford is the UK’s most green city, with 12.8% of bicycle users in the area cycling at least five times a week and over 117 EV charging stations across the city. Oxford also ranked in the top five locations with the most green buildings.

According to recent data from the Met Office, the location home to one of the world’s top research universities also has an air quality forecast of 5 (moderate) based on five key pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM2.5 and PM10 particles that can have an impact on your health.

Cambridge was named the second most sustainable city in the UK according to Specialist Glass product’s Greenest Cities Index. With a strategy to be net zero carbon by 2030, the city has set a target to reduce emissions from buildings and vehicles by 15%. Currently, it has 29 EV charging stations to promote the usage of electric vehicles and the highest percentage of bicycle users (15.4%) in the UK.

Only two northern cities made it into the top 10 greenest cities ranking. Although Wakefield needs more people who cycle at least five times a week, it scored high in the number of EV charging stations available (65), with an air quality forecast of five. 

Although Manchester ranked in 7th place overall, the first industrialised city in the world came out on top for the number of green buildings (446), 207 more than ‘the greenest city’, Oxford. 

Green buildings prioritise energy efficiency by incorporating design features and technologies that reduce energy consumption. This includes efficient insulation, high-performance windows, energy-efficient lighting systems, and renewable energy sources like solar panels. According to the Green Cities Index, the top ten cities in the UK with the most green buildings are:

1. Manchester
2. Cambridge
3. Bristol, City of
4. Oxford
5. Leeds
6. Buckinghamshire
7. Birmingham
8. Stafford
9. Nottingham
10. Derby

Andrew Taylor, Managing director of Specialist Glass Products, said: “Both the public and businesses are addressing environmental challenges and transitioning to a more sustainable future by adopting renewable energy sources and reducing transportation emissions as well as embracing circular economies and sustainable design concepts.

“Green buildings, in particular, play a vital role in promoting sustainability and addressing environmental challenges. We’ve seen significant growth in the demand for structural glass over the past 12 months, especially from businesses looking for more sustainable materials. 

“Glass is a much more eco-friendly alternative to bricks or steel. Choosing high-quality glass products and maintaining them properly can prolong the life of a building, reducing the environmental impact of replacements and redesigns.”

Find out more about Green Buildings and how glass can play a role in sustainability efforts here: https://www.specialistglass.co.uk/the-top-10-greenest-cities-in-the-uk/ 

For PR enquiries, please contact:

Kayleigh Morgan, Wild PR

Account Manager

E: kayleigh@wild-pr.co.uk 

T:  01484 504488

Sources:

1. SGP’s Greenest Cities Index: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MxSTX2Eow8jrhvjvLJO3wzYkIeBWDcdHN8nnAu219Xg/edit#gid=0 
2. The number of EV charging stations: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-april-2023 
3. The number of green buildings (based on BREEAM Assessments that have been certified under BREEAM 2008 onwards): https://tools.breeam.com/projects/explore/buildings.jsp?sectionid=0&projectType=&rating=&certNo=&buildingName=&client=&developer=&certBody=&assessor=&location=BARNSTAPLE&countryID=56&partid=10023&Submit=Search 
4. The number of people who cycle for any purpose at least five times a week: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t6zyEd-tGbMaieq3NEzrIz5NNXSGeHq0/view?usp=drive_link 
5. The air quality forecast correct as of 14/06/23: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/forecasting/locations?q=leeds 
6. The rate of recycling in each location: https://www.letsrecycle.com/councils/league-tables/2020-21-overall-performance-2/