Pivotal role for planning to help combat climate change
For the first time, local planning authorities will have to ensure that all new development makes significant cuts in carbon emissions, according to the draft statement on planning and climate change.
The statement, published this week, has made it clear that the government wants the planning regime to play a pivotal role in meeting the challenge of climate change.
The PPS, now out for consultation, has stressed that regional planning bodies in England will have to produce "regional trajectories for the expected carbon performance of new residential and commercial development".
The statement has encouraged local planning authorities to set out locally specific opportunities for requiring higher levels of building performance in their Development Plan Documents (DPDs).
"New development," it has stressed, "should be located and designed to optimise its carbon performance and limit its likely contribution to carbon emissions."
Specifically, substantial new development should be expected to consider and take into account the potential of decentralised energy supply systems based on renewable and low-carbon energy. Planning authorities will have to ensure that all new development schemes must provide 10 per cent of their energy needs from such sources.
The proposed new policy has also underlined that "new development should be located and designed for the climate, and impacts it is likely to experience over its intended lifetime".
The draft also made it clear that "climate change considerations should be integrated into all spatial planning concerns including transport, housing, economic growth and regeneration, water supply and waste management, and not considered separately".
Communities and Local Government Secretary, Ruth Kelly, said the draft statement on planning and climate change was designed to be a wake-up call for local and regional development plans.
"It sets out where and how planning can contribute most effectively in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We want planning strategies put in place which help secure progress against the UK's carbon targets: both by direct influence on energy use and emissions and through bringing together and encouraging action by others," said the SoS.
She added: "Planning should give local communities real opportunities to take action on climate change and should be doing so now."
Roger Milne
15 December 2006
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