Policy, contexts and challenges Dr Hugh Ellis Chief Planner Town and Country Planning Association

Policy, contexts and challenges

Dr Hugh EllisChief PlannerTown and Country Planning Association

East Midlands training for planners on adaptation

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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.

…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)

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What the draft NPPF says about planning and climate change?

• 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’

• How is ‘sustainable development’ defined?• How will it be applied in practice?

• Core planning principles (para 19)• genuinely plan-led..• 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?

• 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?• “NPPF does not achieve clarity by its

brevity”

• “definition of sustainable development must give a clear indication of what constitutes sustainable development”

• “establish a timetable for a transition period in consultation with local government”

• “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