- Progress by
councils using eco-town standards for future development -
Housing and Planning Minister John Healey has today announced a
triple boost for councils tackling climate change by updating
planning rules, granting nearly £10million to improve green skills
and backing further progress by the "second
wave" of eco-towns.
Three planning policies have been overhauled so that councils
have the very latest targets and guidance to address climate
change, putting them in the driving seat of change.
Combined, the new policy statements (Climate Change, Natural
Environment and Coastal Change) will give councils a
"green planning rulebook" so new sustainable
developments are planned and built with the aim of reducing carbon
emissions and with the future climate in mind.
Proposals for the new climate change planning policy will ensure
new developments are built in the right places, utilising
sustainable sources of energy and encouraging the installation of
electric car charging points.
To help councils, Mr Healey has today granted nearly £10million
to boost their expertise as "green champions",
updating the tools and know-how they need to develop sustainable
housing and energy sources for their areas.
Mr Healey also confirmed that a further two new areas have been
added to proposed eco-town "second wave"
originally announced in December. Two more councils – East Devon
District Council and Fareham Borough Council – have expressed an
interest in using eco-town standards for new settlements in their
area. The bids need to meet the pioneering green standards set out
in the eco-towns planning policy statement published last July,
and will be subject to widespread public consultation and local
planning approval before going ahead.
The Minister has announced a share of £10m for these areas,
originally announced in December, to help generate plans and
"early win projects". The funding will help get
proposals and masterplans off the ground, introducing greener
living not only for people who go on to live in the new eco-towns,
but for the thousands of people already living nearby
John Healey, said:
"Today I am announcing a triple boost for councils to
tackle climate change. Overhauled planning policies will act as a
new green planning rulebook and the £10m for councils will provide
training to help deliver action on the ground. I am also pleased
to announce two new areas in the eco-town "second
wave". Councils are making great progress and already
highlighting where they can apply tough green standards in new
developments. This signals real and radical momentum to change and
to re-think how we design our towns and homes for the future.
"We know we need greener, renewable energy if we are to
meet our ambitious low carbon targets. We also know that the ways
and means for people to access this energy needs to be quicker and
easier.
"The tougher, better guidelines for planning give
councils a new blueprint, reflecting the latest targets and
ensuring councils put combating climate change at the heart of
future development – ultimately saving people money on their bills
and reducing emissions."
A consultation has been launched today for the new climate change
planning policy, to ensure new developments are built in the right
places, so that where people live and work helps secure radical
cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and developments are resilient to
the effects of our changing climate. This includes requirements to
reduce the need for people to travel between where they live and
work, encouraging the installation of electric car charging
points, better public transport and improved walking and cycling
links.
The proposals aim to ensure that more of our energy will be from
renewable energy sources, and applications for such sources are
approved more quickly. Local councils have a hugely important role
to play. Therefore empowering local authorities and giving them
the skills to approve these projects means we could release more
green energy from developments.
Mr Healey also confirmed a final planning policy for managing
coastal change, giving new planning powers to coastal communities
to help their local economy and tourist industry. After extensive
consultation, all inappropriate development such as housing will
continue to be banned in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion. But
there will no longer be a blanket ban on temporary development
that has wider economic benefits, an acceptable coastal use and
could be relocated when required.
The third boost comes in the form of a consultation on the
Natural Environment planning policy, which provides councils with
updated guidance to plan for and provide for 'green
infrastructure' – networks of parks, cycleways, rivers,
allotments and trees on streets.
The guidelines aim to boost the nation's health and
fitness even further by allowing more sports clubs to stay open
after dark with hi-tech floodlights that cut light pollution. With
floodlighting for local sports pitches, people will have more
opportunities to make use of facilities in the evenings.
Notes to editors
1. The new Planning Policy Statements (PPS') and
associated consultations can be found at the following links:
Climate Change: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/ppsclimateconsultation
Coastal Change: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/ppscoastalchange.
Natural Environment: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/naturalenvironmentconsultation.
2. The Climate Change PPS aims to provide tougher, streamlined
green rules for planning reflect the Government's latest
carbon reduction and renewable energy targets and will ensure
councils put combating climate change at the heart of future
development. The new planning policy will not affect green belt
boundaries, nor will it change the tough rules already in place to
protect the green belt.
Proposed new planning guidelines will:
ensure that councils plan for the provision of low carbon and
renewable energy in their areas;protect communities from future
harmful effects of climate change, such as water shortages and
heat;put councils centre stage in securing electric vehicle
charging infrastructure in new developments;help businesses by
ensuring councils plan for renewable energy at the local level,
rather than one-size-fits-all approach that makes developers
source renewable energy on site.
3. On a daily basis, planning officers across the country give
the green light to hundreds of different projects – from planning
permission for extensions to major housing developments and
infrastructure projects. It is crucial that local authorities
approving greener energy projects are clear on the criteria to do
so. In July last, the Government committed to ensuring the right
skills and knowledge to deliver low carbon and renewable energy
are available within local planning authorities at a local and
regional level. The 9.75million pledged today will be used to
support local authorities by training members and planners and for
better community engagement in the planning process, including the
provision and use of renewable energy. The remainder will be used
for programme management, including for continuous professional development.
4. Eco-towns need to meet the pioneering green standards set out
in the eco-towns planning policy statement published in July 2009.
The target is to see up to ten eco-towns underway by 2020 and any
proposals will need to meet the established eco-town standards of
including at least 5,000 homes with innovative ideas for how jobs,
schools and services are delivered in low carbon ways that will
help the UK respond to climate change.
5. The second wave of eco towns are in addition to the four sites
announced in July 2009, which met tough government standards.
Those sites in Hampshire, Norfolk, Cornwall and Oxfordshire are
currently developing revolutionary "masterplans"
for local planning approval. Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire was the
first to publish its draft masterplan for public consultation in
November 2009. All proposals will have to meet the high standards
of sustainability that we set out in July. Reheated or
'greenwashed' proposals will not make it through
the planning process. All locations have submitted promising ideas
so far for meeting these standards
6. The £10m (originally announced in December 2009) has been
granted across the second wave sites to develop plans and
introduce greener living not only for people who go on to live in
the new eco-towns, but for the thousands of people already living
nearby. Construction of demonstrator projects and "eco
show homes" could also potentially create and support
local jobs, including apprenticeships to help advance new green
building skills.
7. The funding will also go towards studies in how to improve
existing transport links, including options such as rapid routes
for buses with real-time travel information, green travel hubs and
facilities for electric cars and bikes. Pioneering new energy
projects will be set up so that residents take their energy from
natural sources. The cash will also provide funding for further
studies to see whether the locations can match up to the standards
expected in the eco-towns PPS.
8. Possible second wave bids are still at an early stage and will
be subject to further, widespread consultation on proposals,
before public consultation and local planning approval.
9. Progress and funding allocation across the second wave sites
is as follows:
Northstowe ( Cambridgeshire local authorities and
Homes and Communities Agency) The project is intended to
create around 9,500 homes with up to 9,000 new jobs and benefits
from over £100m of up front transport investment from the
Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, which will serve the new community
and act as an alternative to using a car. £1.5m funding has been
awarded to develop the eco-town plan. It will also fund the
Northstowe Information Centre (as part of a station building on
the guided busway/Park and Ride) to showcase greener living and a
"retrofitting programme" in the local area to
improve the environmental performance of existing homes on the new site.
Shoreham Harbour
Today's funding award of up to £1.5m will support
the Adur Core Strategy (due for consultation later in 2010) by
funding studies which will help provide evidence to ensure
deliverability and develop green infrastructure and renewable
energy. Working with Brighton and Hove City Council, and subject
to a successful planning application, the funding could also help
the development of 'PortZed', an innovative 67
apartment scheme in which all electricity required for the
apartments will be provided by small scale wind turbines situated
between the apartment blocks including affordable housing together
with commercial/retail and public space. The entire eco-quarter
could eventually contain around 5,000 homes with a similar level
of jobs.
Yeovil
South Somerset District
Council and Somerset County Council are committed to the potential
of achieving eco-town standard in an urban eco-village and an
eco-extension on the edge of Yeovil. £1.5m funding will support
the Council in undertaking more detailed studies, including
masterplanning to eco-town standards, assessing renewable energy
sources, sustainable transport options and enabling them to
publish their emerging core strategy later in 2010. It also
includes demonstrator funding which, subject to further discussion
of details, would support a start on the urban village with an
innovative 37 home scheme at The Glove Factory to illustrate the
potential of wind, solar Photovoltaics (PV) and hydro power in an
urban setting together with biomass distributed heating for the
scheme. It would also provide an education centre and retrofitting
of properties. Biodiversity would be enhanced at the site through
increased planting and there would be improved links to a nearby
country park. The innovative small-scale hydro power scheme would
supply low energy lighting on the development and serve as an
educational feature.
Taunton Somerset County Council and Taunton
Deane Borough Council are proposing detailed studies of potential
eco-town development at Monkton Heathfield, a development area
with capacity for 5,000 homes to the North East of Taunton. It
will be a self-contained community, including employment, services
and community facilities, well linked to Taunton by public
transport and sustainable travel option.
This additional funding of £630,000 will support development
of detailed proposals for sustainable transport, renewable energy,
green infrastructure in the masterplan.
Leeds (Aire Valley, York North West, North
Kirklees and Bradford-Shipley Canal Corridor) Leeds City
Region has developed an Urban eco-settlement programme, with the
aim of delivering Eco-towns PPS standards in four key housing
growth and regeneration areas (Leeds Aire Valley, York North West,
North Kirklees and Bradford-Shipley canal corridor) within the
City region. Today's funding of £1.2m will enable
additional work on the local plans and masterplans, including
detailed studies on energy, environmental infrastructure and
transport across the 4 areas.
Demonstrator projects in York and Aire Valley will let local
people see early on the benefits of eco development. An education
centre and information show home at York North West will also
provide a base for training in sustainable construction techniques
with links to the University of York's academy.
Lincoln area and Gainsborough City of Lincoln
Council, North Kesteven District Council, West Lindsey District
Council, Lincolnshire County Council wish to achieve zero carbon
development that is highly adaptive to climate change and to
commit to the Eco-towns PPS standards. A key focus on the future
will be on urban extension development options around Lincoln and
at Gainsborough. These potential urban extensions are mainly in
single ownerships which would help to secure eco-town concepts and
a high standard of sustainability. This funding award of up to
£1.5m will support the Joint Committee in driving forward their
core strategy for publication in 2011, by enabling them to
undertake a detailed assessment of meeting higher environmental
standards, particularly for green infrastructure and energy usage.
In Gainsborough it will support a highly innovative project to
retrofit existing terraced and new build housing, including the
remodeling of a traditional terrace and street, by introducing
greenspace and linked to a combined heat and power plant.
Coventry Coventry Council are at concept
phase are waiting to consider the Inspector's report into
their Core Strategy before pursuing proposals further.
Dearne Valley, Sheffield City Region The plan
is to apply the principles of eco-towns to existing communities in
the Dearne Valley to provide a showcase for sustainable living
threading through three local authority areas - Barnsley,
Doncaster and Rotherham. The partners are looking to create a
masterplan for the Dearne Valley as a whole to provide a
consistent approach to ensure that the area becomes the lowest
carbon community of its type in the country within ten years. The
funding awarded today £455,000 will support development of the
vision for Dearne Valley in all 3 areas through detailed studies
on delivering to the higher eco-town standards, as well as
identifying employment and education opportunities. This will be
further supported by the demonstrator project at the Ann Rhodes
Community Centre at Brampton in Rotherham which will showcase new
technologies in a retrofit show home.
Cornwall
Cornwall Council is
supporting one of the four first wave eco-towns around St Austell
and is keen to apply the eco-towns concept as it addresses the
growth and housing needs of other parts of the county. The funding
awarded today of up to £500,000 will test a range of options for
Cornwall based on the PPS standards and also innovative solutions
to delivery. This will be further supported by the Illogen Green
Ripple, a community based green living project on the edge of
Camborne, which aims to deliver significant carbon emission
reductions, in line with the PPS, through both physical and
behavioral change in areas such as transport, energy and waste.
Cranbrook
A growth point and
new settlement east of Exeter will initially provide 3,500 homes
by 2016 (with 40 percent of these being affordable), with the
potential for further expansion to 7,500 homes. Funding of
£200,000 will enable East Devon District Council to carry out
further work to develop their masterplan and enable them to test
the potential for higher standards and levels of growth building
on the innovative approaches that they have already developed,
including combined and district heat and power proposals.
Fareham
This is a new
settlement of at least 7,000 homes, north of Fareham which is part
of the South Hampshire growth partnership (Partnership for Urban
South Hampshire). It is a priority for Fareham Borough Council who
are committed to developing a sustainable development to the high
standards set out in the PPS. Funding of £200,000 will enable the
Council to undertake more detailed work, including green
infrastructure assessments, and studies on waste, water and
renewable energy.
10. The 'Warm Homes Greener Homes Home Energy Management
Strategy' was launched last week by Energy Secretary Ed
Miliband, Communities Secretary John Denham and Housing Minister
John Healey. It put a clear emphasis on the role of energy
companies and local authorities in tackling climate change: www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/saving_energy/hem/hem.aspx
11. The strategy recognises councils' important existing
responsibilities for cutting carbon emissions: and their abilities
to bring the right people together, reducing the burdens on
individual householders. Councils can also use the planning system
to establish large scale, community heat and energy sources.
12. It builds on the pioneering Local Carbon Framework pilots
Communities Secretary John Denham announced in January. These nine
authorities are ready to help Government identify the support
needed for all local authorities to follow the lead of the best,
make sure unnecessary barriers to action are swept away, and
identify the tools needed for local authorities to do the job.
13. Manchester, Leeds City region, Bristol, Oxford,
Northumberland, Haringey, Nottingham, Plymouth and Bournemouth
Poole and Dorset MAA will work with Government over the coming
twelve months to pioneer and test new local carbon frameworks.
Contacts:
Communities and Local Government Out of hours
Phone: 0303 444 1201
press.office@communities.gsi.gov.uk