A WOODWORKING business in Clapham has dramatically reduced its waste and its energy costs, with support from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

Mark James Kitchens, run by two dales' craftsmen, has installed an advanced extraction system in its workshop, as well as a waste burning heater and a new spray paint gun unit.

The extraction system efficiently gathers the wood waste, which is burned to heat the workshop.

And, the increase in heating capacity means that the firm can use more environmentally-friendly water-based paint finishes, which require warmth to cure.

The small business was awarded an SDF grant of £6,288 – around half the total costs of the work.

It was also helped out by the park authority’s planning service, which last month granted planning permission for a new flue at the workshop.

Owner Mark Smith said: “We would like our business to be as environmentally-friendly as possible – and we’ve been really pleased to get the support of the Sustainable Development Fund. The new kit means we are creating heat on site, using a by-product which previously we had to throw away. It also means we’re able to use more water-based finishes, cutting the amount of bad gases we are emitting into the local environment.”

The park authority’s member champion for sustainable development, Chris Clark, said: “Congratulations to Mark James Kitchens for making significant improvements to their workshop. The project scored well against the SDF’s environmental and economic criteria. I wish the business all the best as it looks to expand and take on staff.”