Guide to planning services

Climate change is having a major impact on our planet. Cheltenham Borough Council declared a ‘Climate emergency’ and committed to becoming a net zero carbon council and borough by 2030. In February 2022 a Climate Change Action Plan was created with the goal of ensuring that we strive for Cheltenham to be a thriving and equitable town, ensuring a good life for everyone within the Earth’s natural boundaries.

A new guidance document for planning was adopted by the council in June 2022. The Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) sets out Cheltenham Borough Council’s ambitions for all buildings within the borough and how they should respond to the climate change and biodiversity crisis.

The SPD is intended to provide guidance to applicants on successfully integrating a best-practice approach towards climate and biodiversity in development proposals.

How successfully applications align with the SPD will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. You should take account of this document when designing your proposals and submit a sustainability appraisal with your application.