Multi-million pound boost for York and North Yorkshire’s push for carbon negative status

More than £6.5million has been awarded to innovative projects across York and North Yorkshire as the region looks to trailblaze ways of reducing greenhouse gasses.

Organisations receiving a share of the £6.75million Carbon Negative Challenge Fund were revealed today by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which is committed to becoming England's first carbon negative region by 2040. More projects are expected to be announced shortly.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “We're ambitious here in York and North Yorkshire, and we're working towards being the first region in England to reach carbon negative by 2040. 

“That's why we are backing projects from across the region, investing £6.75 million through my Carbon Negative Challenge Fund. 

“From our coast to national parks, we can use our expertise and our landscape to bring down energy bills and help farmers take care of our environment." 

Following an application process last year, grants are heading to organisations which demonstrated innovative ways to lower greenhouse emissions, capture carbon through natural methods, or boost growth in sustainable technology and methods. 

Work has already begun on the projects, with successful bidders including businesses, community groups, local authorities and the region's national parks.

Amongst the organisations benefiting from the support is North York Moors National Park, which has received grants totalling more than £388,000, to deliver three projects.

Briony Fox, Director of Conservation at North Yorkshire Moors National Park said: “This funding from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is a significant boost for the National Park, enabling us to deliver three ambitious, collaborative projects in Bransdale, Raisdale and across the region's peatlands with our ‘Moor to Restore' work.

“By supporting sustainable farming, low-carbon land use and the restoration of degraded peatlands, the projects will help tackle climate change, support nature recovery, and deliver lasting environmental benefits for the North York Moors and wider region.

“Just as importantly, this funding will help strengthen resilient farming livelihoods and communities, ensuring these landscapes continue to be shaped and cared for by the people who live and work here.”

Scarborough-based SeaGrown creates products using kelp which it grows and harvests off the North Yorkshire coast. The company has received a grant of £673,100.

Wave Crookes, co-founder of SeaGrown, said: “With support from the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund, our project team are excited to be building a low-carbon seaweed hub that will develop sustainable marine products for the benefit of everyone in our region.

“Together, we can harness one of Yorkshire's greatest natural assets—the sea—to help decarbonise key industries, replace carbon-intensive feedstocks with marine-derived alternatives, and position York and North Yorkshire as a national leader in the Blue Economy, creating new jobs and opportunities for our communities.”

HECK! Sausages, based in Bedale, has received £104,000 for a project to transform animal bones into carbon negative fertiliser.

James Ashford, HECK!'s Head of Procurement, said the company is committed to making food that's better for people and better for the planet.

“This funding helps us champion regenerative farming and make smarter use of by-products, turning what might otherwise go to waste into something truly valuable,” he said.

“It's all part of our journey to reduce our impact and support a more sustainable food system.”

The Fund is the successor to the Combined Authority's £7million Net Zero Fund, which supported 23 successful sustainability projects across the region. The Carbon Negative Challenge fund is one of six programmes chosen by David Skaith to receive a share of £30million over the next four years.

The Mayoral Investment Fund is part of York and North Yorkshire's devolution deal, which will see £540million invested in the region over 30 years.

At its meeting on March 27, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will discuss launching a public consultation this spring, on its Strategy for a Sustainable Future. The draft Strategy is a collaboration with partner regional authorities and other key organisations, and will set out how the Combined Authority intends to achieve its goal of a carbon negative region by 2040.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

Below is a list of projects receiving Carbon Negative Challenge Fund grants, as of March 23, 2026.