'Green planning rulebook' launched to ensure that new developments are planned and built sustainably

Housing and Planning Minister John Healey has announced a triple boost for councils tackling climate change by updating planning rules, granting nearly £10million to improve green skills and backing further progress by the 'second wave' of eco-towns. The government has launched consultations for new Planning Policy Statements (PPS) on climate change and the natural environment along with a new policy on coastal change.

The proposed climate change planning policy includes requirements to reduce the need for people to travel between where they live and work, encouraging the installation of electric car charging points, better public transport and improved walking and cycling links.

The draft Natural Environment planning policy, provides councils with updated guidance to plan for and provide for ‘green infrastructure’.

The new coastal change policy discourages all inappropriate development in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion, but there will no longer be a blanket ban on temporary development that has wider economic benefits, an acceptable coastal use and could be relocated when required.

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and Friends of the Earth have welcomed the triple announcement.

A consultation has been launched for the new climate change planning policy, to ensure new developments are built in the right places, so that where people live and work helps secure radical cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and developments are resilient to the effects of our changing climate. This includes requirements to reduce the need for people to travel between where they live and work, encouraging the installation of electric car charging points, better public transport and improved walking and cycling links.

See also: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/naturalen...
See also: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/coastalch...

TCPA Chief Planner, Dr Hugh Ellis said: 'This is an historic moment. Planning can, and must, address the critical need to reshape our society and economy into a positive low carbon future. In the aftermath of the failure of Copenhagen it is now crucial that we drive transformational change by empowering communities to deal with their energy need. This policy is one the most dramatic and significant steps forward in the development of spatial planning. The profession has to step up to the challenge of taking communities to a low carbon future.”

Friends of the Earth’s Renewable Energy Campaigner Nick Rau said: 'Tackling climate change must be at the core of the planning system – and these reforms are a significant step towards a low-carbon future.'

Three planning policies have been overhauled so that councils have the very latest targets and guidance to address climate change, putting them in the driving seat of change.

Combined, the new policy statements (Climate Change, Natural Environment and Coastal Change) will give councils a 'green planning rulebook' so new sustainable developments are planned and built with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and with the future climate in mind.

Proposals for the new climate change planning policy will ensure new developments are built in the right places, utilising sustainable sources of energy and encouraging the installation of electric car charging points.

To help councils, Mr Healey has granted nearly £10million to boost their expertise as 'green champions', updating the tools and know-how they need to develop sustainable housing and energy sources for their areas.

Mr Healey also confirmed that a further two new areas have been added to proposed eco-town 'second wave' originally announced in December. Two more councils – East Devon District Council and Fareham Borough Council – have expressed an interest in using eco-town standards for new settlements in their area. The bids need to meet the pioneering green standards set out in the eco-towns planning policy statement published last July, and will be subject to widespread public consultation and local planning approval before going ahead.

The Minister has announced a share of £10m for these areas, originally announced in December, to help generate plans and early-win projects. The funding will help get proposals and masterplans off the ground, introducing greener living not only for people who go on to live in the new eco-towns, but for the thousands of people already living nearby.

Said the Minister: 'We know we need greener, renewable energy if we are to meet our ambitious low carbon targets. We also know that the ways and means for people to access this energy needs to be quicker and easier.

'The tougher, better guidelines for planning give councils a new blueprint, reflecting the latest targets and ensuring councils put combating climate change at the heart of future development – ultimately saving people money on their bills and reducing emissions.'

The proposals aim to ensure that more of our energy will be from renewable energy sources, and applications for such sources are approved more quickly. Local councils have a hugely important role to play. Therefore empowering local authorities and giving them the skills to approve these projects means we could release more green energy from developments.

Mr Healey also confirmed a final planning policy for managing coastal change, giving new planning powers to coastal communities to help their local economy and tourist industry. After extensive consultation, all inappropriate development such as housing will continue to be banned in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion. But there will no longer be a blanket ban on temporary development that has wider economic benefits, an acceptable coastal use and could be relocated when required.

The third boost comes in the form of a consultation on the Natural Environment planning policy, which provides councils with updated guidance to plan for and provide for 'green infrastructure' – networks of parks, cycleways, rivers, allotments and trees on streets.

The guidelines aim to boost the nation's health and fitness even further by allowing more sports clubs to stay open after dark with hi-tech floodlights that cut light pollution. With floodlighting for local sports pitches, people will have more opportunities to make use of facilities in the evenings.