PRESS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW MEASURES CLIMATE MEASURES WELCOME, BUT REST OF GOVERNMENT
MUST GET ITS HOUSE IN ORDER
Zero carbon homes will be at the heart of new measures
to tackle climate change through the planning system, Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly announced today.
Welcoming the new draft planning policy statement
(PPS) which follows the Town and Country Planning Association’s ‘Planning for Climate Change’ campaign
with Friends of the Earth, TCPA Chief Executive
“This is a great step
forward. We are delighted that our Planning
for Climate Change campaign has been so effective at building consensus
throughout the sector that planners can make a big difference in the fight
against climate chaos.
“However, planning has
huge potential not only to reduce carbon emissions from new homes, but also
from offices, schools, transport and energy schemes. The
rest of Government must follow suit and get its house in order by setting
binding targets to reduce carbon emissions across all sectors.”
In line with the TCPA campaign, regional spatial
strategies should drive carbon reduction in through new development. However
the TCPA has also called for cross sector carbon reduction targets to cover
energy and transport, as well as commercial buildings.
The new measures announced today include a new draft
Planning
The new PPS – significantly to be
a part of PPS1 – will now take precedence over other existing planning policy,
including in consideration of landscape protection. The
TCPA also welcomed new measures to release ‘windfall’ (spare) land for wind
farms and other low carbon and renewable energy technologies such as combined
heat and power.
“Like it or not, wind
turbines are part of the solution. Climate change is by far the greatest threat
to our landscape, and unlike wind turbines its effects cannot be removed at a
later date.
“It is not too late to
prevent the worst effects of climate change, but we must be prepared to seize
the opportunity that development offers to drive change across the board in our
urban and rural communities. This new guidance provides just that opportunity”
The new Code for Sustainable
Homes, which will set out how house builders should prepare to meet the carbon
zero homes target (by 2016) outlined by Gordon Brown in his Pre Budget Report,
was also welcomed by
“The development industry now needs to respond to the new reality of development in a changing climate. We have pressed for a clear timeline to upgrade Building Regulations to enable the industry to invest and deliver with certainty. Today’s announcements begin that process. But ten years may be too late. We therefore urge developers not to wait until the last minute, but to take action now to protect the climate and give consumers a better deal.
“We are disappointed however that the Code only applies to new homes, which only account for 1 per cent of the housing stock per year, rather than all new buildings. Carbon zero buildings are good for the environment, but they can also lower fuel bills for residents and businesses. The time for waiting is over – we need to start building low carbon development into our towns and cities today.”
Not
only will new developments have to be ‘climate proofed’ but planners will also
have to insist that developers either include some micro-renewable energy in
their scheme, or ensure the development could be plugged in to a local
renewable supply in future. The TCPA has called for more mini-grids to supply
small scale heat and power generation through district heating schemes, such as
those found in
The Planning for Climate Change
campaign was launched one year ago when TCPA and Friends of the Earth called
for more Government to recognise the huge opportunity planning offers in
combating climate change. In response, the Government announced plans to
produce a new PPS on climate change.
The TCPA and FoE conducted a six-month stakeholder
consultation culminating in the publication of a ‘mock’ PPS on climate change
(in September) ahead of the first Government draft. This was supported by more
than 20 experts, businesses and campaign groups.
The two key principles in the mock PPS that resulted
were that the new policy should set binding carbon reduction targets through
regional and local spatial plans, and that planners should give equal weight to
tackling both adaptation to and avoidance of climate change.
Planning for Climate Change campaign supporters include:
Acclimatize, Beck Mittle
Hydro ltd, Butterfly Conservation, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Combined
Heat and Power Association, Council for British Archaeology, Council for
National Parks, Friends of the Earth, Futerra, Green
Alliance, Greenpeace, The Herpetological Conservation Trust, Local Government
Association, The National Trust, OISD, Places for People, Planning magazine,
Planning Officers Society, The Ramblers, Renewable Energy Association, Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Royal Town Planning Institute
(RTPI), Sheppard Robson, Solar Century, Town and Country Planning Association,
Vale Royal Borough Council, Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
- The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent campaigning
charity calling for more integrated planning based on the principles of
accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and community cohesion. The TCPA puts social justice
and the environment at the heart of the debate about planning policy,
housing and energy supply. We inspire government, industry and campaigners
to take a fresh perspective on major issues including climate change and
regeneration. Media contact Kirsten Gogan
0207930 8903 kirsten@tcpa.org.uk
- Visit the
TCPA Planning for Climate Change website at http://www.tcpa.org.uk/climate-change.htm
- Planning
- A carbon zero home is one that can be run without producing net carbon emissions over the course of a year