How do we make effective use
of hot air?
The planning sector’s efforts to combat climate change have been criticised as ‘all talk and no action’. Planning & Development Insite spoke to planning consultants Peter Canavan and Willow Mercer to discuss how our sector might better achieve net zero.
With 40% of the UK's carbon footprint emanating from the built environment, the planning system must do more to address the climate emergency. The past decade has seen some positive initiatives, but legislation has responded slowly. As temperatures continue to rise, should the single-initiative ‘carrots’ be joined by the ‘stick’ of the law?
The fundamental problem in planning is the coexistence of a climate crisis and housing crisis: aspirations to introduce energy efficiency are tempered by the need to construct more homes, more quickly.
“While it’s good to see the 17 Sustainable Development Goals now included in the NPPF, current legislation is insufficient to deliver on these goals.”
About our professionals
Peter Canavan
Partner
Peter is based in our Oxford office and previously worked at South Oxfordshire District Council. He has worked in public sector planning for over nine years and has been involved in the preparation, scrutiny and adoption of Local Plans, the consideration of planning applications and acted as expert witness in appeals. Since joining our firm, Peter has represented a variety of clients (including large scale developers, universities and public sector bodies) at Development Control Order (DCO) hearings, planning appeal inquiries and Local Plan Examinations in Public.
Willow Mercer
Senior Planner
Willow is a Senior Planner at Carter Jonas and is based within our Bristol office, operating across the South West of England. She has a varied working history within the local authority, consultancy, and development sectors. Her extensive skillset ranges from urban planning and site appraisals to client negotiations and community engagement alongside much more. Earlier this year, Willow was elected to become a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
The requirement for Local Plans to incorporate sustainable principles has existed since the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act incorporated the Brundtland definition of sustainability. But this is not enough.
Willow explains in the context of district heating systems: “Distributing heat from a centralised location can provide cheap low-carbon energy. The scale is only limited by the amount of heat captured, the ability to install pipes and the opportunity connect to the network. But while policy aspirations might make this possible in theory, the feasibility is not tested until development has commenced. Frustratingly, this is often too late.”
Strategic planning –
a need for greater strategy
In July the Government published a revised NPPF and was immediately forced to commit to further revisions because of its failure to address its own net zero obligations.
Policy – omissions and opportunities
IN CONCLUSION
Unfortunately, with the exception of a virtuous few inclined by the ‘carrot’ of a sustainable future, the ‘stick’ must come into play: further changes to planning policy, as the Government has realised following the recent response to its NPPF revisions, are required. In the imminent Planning Bill, we have the ideal opportunity for further advances in strategic planning and developer obligations, and the potential to deliver real change.
“I am aware of a local authority requesting a district heating scheme as a condition of a planning consent, without the infrastructure needs contained in the Local Plan. Despite the aspirations of both the developer and the council, the lack of a holistic approach made it a practical impossibility and the condition
was discharged.”
Peter makes a comparison to sewerage: “Developments must, by law, connect to a public sewerage network and this is reflected in strategic planning. If transparent planning and management of district heating could be guaranteed though a Local Plan, then it could be achieved.”
Peter refers to a recent Local Plan allocation for 3,500 homes secured by Carter Jonas. “The location lent itself to district heating, but a nearby institution had a dated system which proved inefficient and unreliable, and had tainted local opinion. New technologies, specifically those which use hospitals, schools and leisure centres as existing heat creators, have a great opportunity to realise improved efficiency – but only if a holistic approach is taken”
“Another problem”, says Willow, “Is that the process from site allocation through to occupation can take 15 years. Homes purchased today were planned when the climate crisis was less evident and policy made little reference to energy efficiency. The phasing-out of gas boilers is possible because it applies on a house-by-house basis. But district heating requires consideration at the masterplanning stage and earlier, and therefore rarely features in today’s new developments.”
“With 40% of the UK's carbon footprint emanating from the built environment, the planning system must do more to address the climate emergency”
Days later it created a webpage which, ‘Brings together key guidance and information relevant to local government on topics related to climate change, net zero and the environment.’ But the sheer number of assessments, policy papers, and documents included demonstrates the need for a clear, integrated and focused approach.
An imminent Planning Bill presents an opportunity to reform plan-making and development control.
The Planning Bill – an opportunity for wholescale reform
“While it’s good to see the 17 Sustainable Development Goals now included in the NPPF,” says Peter, “Current legislation is insufficient to deliver on these goals.”
“Furthermore, recent changes such as the increase in PDR (Permitted Development Rights) have been counter-productive: when converting an office into a home, for example, there are very few opportunities to introduce energy efficiency compared to a new-build. With around 80% of all homes in the UK being over 30 years old – a figure likely to increase because of PDR - changes should be made to encourage greater sustainability in retrofits.”
“I’m also concerned that the proposed 30-month time limit for Local Plan production could result in engagement on climate change falling by the wayside. Engagement is vitally important in bringing about energy efficiency, because community buy-in is critical for the policy shift that is required, and because such polices impact significantly on wider society.”
“Consideration also needs to be given to benchmark land values, planning gain and viability assessments,” says Willow. “Frequently the price of a site will be based on a 10-year-old financial viability study which does not feature renewable energy. Sustainability is not a luxury: it should be integral to any new scheme.”
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