Alexandra Palace is now working with the Mayor of London’s Zero Carbon Accelerator, a programme designed to support organisations in reducing their carbon footprint.
Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban MBE, visited Alexandra Palace to witness first-hand the historic venue’s ambitious journey towards Net Zero. As a cultural landmark with a 150-year history, Alexandra Palace is striving to modernise its infrastructure while preserving its heritage, setting an example for sustainable transformation in London’s listed buildings. With more than 19,000 listed buildings across the capital, achieving Net
Zero in heritage sites presents a unique challenge. Alexandra Palace is now working with the Mayor of London’s Zero Carbon Accelerator, a programme designed to support organisations in reducing their carbon footprint. The Accelerator provides expert guidance, training, and funding insights to help London meet its climate goals.
“Retrofitting listed buildings to make them greener is no easy task, so it’s fantastic to see Ally Pally, the People’s Palace, leading the way with bold environmental targets and making use of our Zero Carbon Accelerator to help achieve them.”
-Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London
Last year, the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust unveiled a visionary roadmap to establish the Palace as a ‘Sustainable Home’ for culture, heritage, and learning. This long-term ambition includes taking the Palace off-grid within a generation, slashing energy consumption, and leveraging the venue’s vast 196-acre park to enhance climate resilience.
Efforts to cut carbon emissions have already yielded results, with the Palace achieving a 29% reduction over the past five years. However, to meet the Net Zero target, deeper structural changes and long-term investments are required. The Zero Carbon Accelerator is now playing a pivotal role in identifying sustainable solutions and unlocking potential funding.
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Mete Coban praised the initiative, stating: “Retrofitting listed buildings to make them greener is no easy task, so it’s fantastic to see Ally Pally, the People’s Palace, leading the way with bold environmental targets and making use of our Zero Carbon Accelerator to help achieve them. Their sustainability efforts aren’t just about protecting an iconic venue; they’re delivering real, tangible benefits for Londoners—cutting emissions, improving energy efficiency, and creating a greener, fairer city. And that’s exactly what the green transition is about—taking action today to build a more sustainable London for everyone.”
Haringey Council is backing Alexandra Palace’s green initiatives as part of its commitment to achieving Net Zero borough-wide by 2041. Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council, highlighted the venue’s historic role in innovation and its potential to drive positive environmental change. “Ally Pally has been home to major technological advances and is now determined to play its part in tackling the ongoing threat of climate change by reducing its impact on the environment,” she said. “I am delighted that our partnership is inspiring the community to turn carbon-cutting ideas into reality and is helping us to deliver on our pledge to become a Net Zero borough.”
Chair of Trustees at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, Cllr Emine Ibrahim, echoed the sentiment, emphasising the Palace’s unique position in London’s cultural and environmental landscape. “We’re proud of the affection people have for Ally Pally and have successfully developed our spaces and programmes so that they are benefitting more people than ever before. However, being 150 years old comes with its challenges. We’re older than the invention of the lightbulb and bigger than Buckingham Palace, and like so many of London’s famous landmarks, we weren’t built with the climate crisis in mind. We firmly believe we can be part of the solution, though. We don’t just want people to think of us as the big, fun Palace on the hill; we want to be the big, fun, green Palace on the hill.”
Sustainability upgrades at the Palace have already begun, with recent projects including the modernisation of heating systems, a reduction in gas consumption, and the installation of low-energy LED lighting—partially funded by Haringey Council’s Community Carbon Fund. Additional improvements have been made in the Palace’s ice rink and West Hall, where lighting systems have been upgraded to enhance energy efficiency.
During his visit, the Deputy Mayor toured the Palace’s sustainability initiatives, including the recently restored Victorian Theatre, which features an advanced passive cooling system. The venue’s integration of historic preservation with modern energy solutions underscores its commitment to balancing heritage with environmental responsibility.
As Alexandra Palace moves forward in its Net Zero journey, collaboration with local authorities, sustainability experts, and community partners remains key. The Zero Carbon Accelerator provides an essential platform for identifying viable pathways to a greener future, ensuring that this beloved London landmark remains a beacon of sustainability for generations to come.
