By following the energy hierarchy, new development will need to achieve net zero carbon by maximising on-site measures first. We will develop guidance on what should be included within the ‘climate action statement.’ The statement will need to clearly demonstrate compliance with the energy hierarchy, and how the development’s space heating demand and total energy use intensity (EUI) figure is being met.

Retrofitting is a significantly more expensive process than fitting energy-efficiency measures and low-carbon heating when a building is built, therefore buildings should be constructed to avoid the need for costly retrofit in the near future.

As operational energy emissions fall towards net zero, embodied carbon from building materials and construction becomes a significant source of emissions. These can be reduced by retaining existing buildings, re-using reclaimed materials, and choosing low-carbon materials such as timber. Organic materials store “biogenic carbon” absorbed during growth, which can remain locked in the building if recycled rather than released at end of life. The planning process has most influence over “upfront” embodied carbon – the emissions from construction processes, measured under RICS modules A0-A5. Assessments must follow the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment (latest version) for these modules. In order to reduce emissions associated with construction activities and the embodied carbon of materials used in new developments, the council will support and encourage the retention, re-use and refurbishment of existing buildings.

The government has adopted the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) target for the Seventh Carbon Budget, this will require a cut in carbon emissions of 87 percent by 2040 (for all emissions, not just those from buildings). The CCC recommends that all new buildings should be zero-carbon by 2025 at the latest, so our policy has been drafted to reflect this advice. As the government has not yet published how it intends to achieve the overall carbon reduction target that it has adopted, ambitious targets are being sought at a local level to ensure we stay within our own local carbon budget.

Effective water resource management is essential to reducing water stress and scarcity, particularly in the face of growing environmental pressures. The Water Framework Directive was originally an EU initiative and has been retained in UK law through the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 201779. It was established to transform water management by placing aquatic ecology at the heart of management decisions. As a local authority we have a vital role to play in this effort, with a duty of care to both communities and the environment. By promoting water efficiency and reducing consumption, we can help limit the volume of water abstracted from natural sources, while also supporting lower customer bills and reduced energy use. Factors such as