The role of planning
Home : Projects : Planning for low carbon housing 2006 - 2007 : The role of planning
Planning has a key role to play in the implementation of sustainable energy and climate change mitigation (and adaptation) strategies, establishing the spatial framework and performance requirements for the location, form and specification of new housing as well as renewable energy generation.
There is increasing expectation that the planning system, as well as building control, should be used to contribute to national and regional policy aims with respect to action on climate change.
The guide brings together planning best practice demonstrating how a full range of planning mechanisms could be utilised, organised by the spatial level at which they can be introduced.
- West Midlands Region – The development of targets for the reduction of carbon emissions from new housing, underpinned by a strong sustainable energy vision that will steer the region towards the national 2050 target of 60% carbon reduction. A strong framework of RSS sustainable energy policies are needed, together with tools and guidance, to enable local authorites to strengthen their LDF’s – as demonstrated by the London Plan and the South West RSS.
- Counties and Urban Areas – Sub-regions have an important role to play in establishing strong climate change policies that seek to engage with districts and boroughs, and the wider community. There is the potential to develop adoptable guidance and to facilitate community energy strategies and supply chain partnerships, as demonstrated by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly and North Yorkshire County Council.
- Local Development Frameworks – Local authority LDF Core Strategies and Development Plan Documents have a key role to play in delivering low carbon homes, and with strong policies and strategies embedded within them they can be used to plan for community heating, establish energy and carbon performance standards, and require on-site renewables. Woking Borough Council and Manchester City Council are leading the way in seeking to adopt carbon reduction targets for new development.
- Areas of Change – With a strong LDF as the starting point, Area Action Plans and Supplementary Planning Documents can then be used to initiate the development of low carbon energy strategies for major new masterplans, regeneration areas and development sites, with the mix of technologies and requirements tailored to the location, urban form and context. The major new community at Kronsberg in Hannover (Germany) is the most coherent example of how this can be achieved in practice, with implementation of an energy strategy to deliver 60% CO2 reductions
The guide also identifies best practice as it relates to the development process for new housing – from vision and masterplan to detailed planning and construction. This is illustrated best by the case study of Hannover Kronsberg, which has an energy strategy that aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 60%.
The guide argues for consistency in planning policies across the region – responding to developers call for a level playing field - and with a move towards a carbon management based approach.