Transcript Adaptation and Spatial Strategy - Policy and

East Midlands training for planners on
adaptation
Policy, contexts and challenges
Dr Hugh Ellis
Chief Planner
Town and Country Planning Association
2
Why will the CCRA be relevant and
important in the new planning system?
• Potential source of high level evidence
• Political and corporate leverage
• As a way of managing cross border
relationships
National strategies and frameworks
• UK Low Carbon Transition Plan 2009 UK will achieve 34% cut in CO2 equivalent
emissions by 2020 – energy, housing etc.
• UK Renewable Energy Strategy 2009 –
UK will supply 15% of all energy from
renewable sources by 2020
• Microgeneration Strategy 2011 -engage
individuals, neighbourhoods and
communities in becoming involved with
generating local heat and power.
• (Revised) Definition of Zero Carbon
May 2011 – re-affirmed commitment
announced in the Growth Review
• Natural Environment White Paper June
2011 - Infrastructure resilience to climate
change and development of green
infrastructure
• Water White Paper Dec 2011 – new
planning approval system for SuDs.
Consultation Environmental Report on
the Revocation of the East Midlands Plan
Policy 35: A Regional Approach to
Managing Flood Risk
“The policy objective could be delivered by other
means than through a regional strategy.
Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires
local authorities to cooperate on strategies
for managing flood risk, and Flood Risk
Regulations 2009 require authorities and
Environment Agency to determine flood
risks and prepare risk management plans
National planning policy on flooding aims to
ensure that flood risk is taken into account
at all stages of the planning process, taking
account of climate change, to avoid
inappropriate development in areas at risk
of flooding and to direct development away
from areas of highest risk”. (pp.61-62)
Consultation Environmental Report on
the Revocation of the East Midlands Plan
Climatic factors
“Revocation is unlikely to have any
significant environmental effect on
climatic factors and climate change.
…
It is expected that local authorities will continue
to work together across administrative
boundaries to plan development that
properly minimises the impact of the
changing climate, particularly from flooding
and coastal change.
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In addition, the Flood Risk Regulations 2009
imposes a duty on the Environment Agency
and lead local flood authorities to determine
whether a significant flood risk exists in an
area and if so to prepare flood hazard
maps, flood risk maps and flood risk
management plans.” (pp.37-38)
…
What the draft NPPF says about
planning and climate change?
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Presumption in favour of sustainable development
(para 13 -18)
• the answer to development and growth should wherever
possible be ‘yes’, except where this would clearly conflict
with other aspects of national policy’
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How is ‘sustainable development’ defined?
How will it be applied in practice?
Core planning principles (para 19)
• genuinely plan-led..
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Encourage multiple benefits of land use for carbon storage,
flood risk management and recreation
Encourage the use of renewable energy
What the draft NPPF says about
planning and climate change?
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Development viability - plan deliverability (para 39 -43)
Scale of policy burdens and obligations should avoid putting
bringing forward developments at risk
But LPAs encouraged to set local standards in the Local Plans
Duty to co-operate (para 44-47, Clause 98 of Localism Bill
Public bodies to co-operate on strategic issues, which include
delivering on climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy
and infrastructure requirements
Planning for places (pp. 42-45)
Chapter on Climate Change, Flooding and Coastal Change
Supporting the delivery of renewable energy, minimise
vulnerability to climate change, and encouraging planning for
green infrastructure
What the Communities and Local
Government Committee says about
planning and climate change in the
draft NPPF?
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“NPPF does not achieve clarity by its
brevity”
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“definition of sustainable
development must give a clear
indication of what constitutes
sustainable development”
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“establish a timetable for a
transition period in consultation with
local government”
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“all guidance and advice documents
be reviewed by DCLG—in
consultation with local authorities—
item by item”
Lessons from current delivery of climate
change in planning
• DCLG report PPS1 Supplement (2010)
• lack of relevant skills and knowledge
and low priority placed on climate
change issues by planning authorities
• Adaptation Sub-Committee 4th
progress report (July 2011)
• land use planning decisions are
potentially increasing the vulnerability
of some areas to climate impacts
• limited evidence that local authorities
were factoring in long-term costs
when making decisions on the
strategic location of new development
in their Local Plan