Prestigious LGC Awards 2025 shortlists Salford City Council for Net Zero and Innovation

Shortlisted for Net Zero – Building a fairer, greener and healthier Salford for all
Shortlisted for Innovation with IEG4 – Revolutionising planning with AI
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 11 June

Recognising the valued difference local government makes to communities and celebrating the dedication of teams and individuals, Salford City Council is delighted to have been shortlisted in two categories at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2025.
With almost 1,000 entries for this year’s awards, Salford City Council has been shortlisted as finalists for the positive impact it has made towards a greener future for the city and fostering a culture of innovation with groundbreaking Artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The Net Zero award nomination recognises that the city is setting the sustainability bar nationally with delivery of exemplar residential and office schemes that place communities and quality at the heart. The council’s vision to building a fairer, greener and healthier Salford for all has been showcased by:

Completion of the Eden building at New Bailey, which has the largest living wall in Europe and is one of the UK’s most sustainable office building to run. 
Affordable homes in response to the growing number of people on housing waiting lists, which also benefit from Passivhaus standards to make them extremely energy efficient and reducing energy bills significantly for residents. 
Decarbonisation of the council’s own estate and fleet reflecting the commitment of becoming carbon neutral by 2038.
Completion of the city’s first two-megawatt solar farm in Little Hulton, connected to the national grid and set to provide electricity to around 800 homes.

The Innovation award nomination recognises how the council, in partnership with software company IEG4, has revolutionised planning services with the AI Planning Validator, resulting in:

Automation and optimisation during the validation process for planning applications.
A reduction in validation times by 60%, enabling staff to focus on complex cases.
Enhanced consistency and more accurate, cost-effective outcomes.

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett added: “I’m delighted that we have been shortlisted for these two prestigious national awards, which demonstrates the pride and passion of people across the council. Each nomination category highlights the importance of the work that we’ve set out within our ‘This is our Salford’ Corporate Plan that is driven by our commitment to support our communities and make a positive environmental impact that contribute to building a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all.”
Interim Chief Executive, Melissa Caslake at Salford City Council said: “Being shortlisted for these awards is a fantastic achievement that recognises the incredible work and enthusiasm of everyone at the council to achieve our vision.

The council will join other leading local authorities in England, with shortlisted councils presenting to a panel of judges on Wednesday 11 June before the final awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.