New planning document drives positive change with local developers to tackle the climate emergency

The council’s new climate change supplementary planning document (SPD) aims to enable planning policy to drive the positive change that the council wants to see from developers around the borough.

Its purpose is to enable sustainable design and construction, and help reduce the negative environmental impacts of the property development industry.

The SPD incorporates guidance on different aspects of sustainable design and construction including energy and carbon, climate change adaption, water efficiency, flood prevention, pollution, sustainable transport, ecology, biodiversity net gain, and waste reduction. It also includes a checklist to help applicants produce a sustainability statement to demonstrate how they are responding to climate change and related issues.

Residents, developers, businesses and community groups are invited to have their say on the document in a survey which launches on 7 March 2022 for four weeks on Citizen Space: haveyoursay.cheltenham.gov.uk/planning/climatespd.

Comments are invited from a cross sector of the borough, from residents, developers and community groups and will help to ensure the council produces the most valuable document possible.

Cllr Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for climate emergency, said: “The planning system isn’t always the most exciting thing to talk about, but it’s a vital part of our response to climate change.

“This ambitious new agenda in planning will lay the foundations as we seek to achieve our ambition to reach net zero and boost nature.

“It’ll help fight fuel poverty, improve public health and create more pleasant neighbourhoods too.

“Our first net zero homes are already through the planning system, so we know it’s possible for developers to do so much better.  Indeed, carrying on as we are is simply not an option.”

Cllr Martin Horwood, cabinet member for customer and regulatory services, says: “Buildings are responsible for almost half of the UK’s carbon emissions and urgent action is needed to reduce the negative environmental impacts from building developments.

“This climate SPD brings local, national and international best practice together with case studies to help illustrate practical actions and help the council bring about much needed necessary changes.”

Following the consultation, any relevant changes will be made to the SPD before its final presentation to council and its publication. As policy and legislation from both central Government and the Joint Core Strategy change, it will be reviewed and updated as applicable.

For media enquiries, contact communications, telephone 01242 264154, email [email protected]

Notes: In 2019, Cheltenham Borough Council declared a climate emergency and a commitment to be a carbon neutral council and borough by 2030.
The goal of a carbon neutral borough will be met by delivering activity which supports and promotes the town’s core vision to be a place where everyone thrives.

For more information on the council’s climate emergency work, visit http://www.vision21.org.uk/cheltenhamzero/.