Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 51
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that future reforms to the...
Recommendation
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that future reforms to the planning system give a larger role to sustainability than is the case in the current planning system. We welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure it contributes to climate action, but the Net Zero and Heating and Buildings strategies could have said more about the ability of local authorities to use the planning system to shape their communities in ways that reduce carbon emissions. We agree with local authorities continuing to be able to set their own, more extensive, energy efficiency standards for new housing developments. To support making new housing carbon neutral, net zero should be given a central role in the National Planning Policy Framework. This can and should be compatible with the Government’s target to deliver 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s. Net zero should also be embedded in the new national design code and local design codes. Furthermore, local authorities should be given the ability 54 Local government and the path to net zero to include tougher standards in Local Plans as unconditional requirements for all developments. The proposal in the Planning White Paper for local authorities to have a statutory responsibility to produce a Local Plan should also include a requirement that the Local Plan specifically addresses the issue of carbon emissions and how the local authority will ensure developments in their area contribute towards achieving net zero. This will enable local authorities to take a strategic approach about how to foster developments that will help reduce carbon emissions. To ensure that planning authorities have the necessary skills to devise and monitor effective decarbonisation policies we reiterate the recommendation from our recent planning report for £500 million to be invested over four years into funding the planning system.
Paragraph Reference:
51
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that the planning system should support the transition to a low-carbon future in a changing climate, taking full account of flood risk and coastal change. It should help to shape places in ways that contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimise vulnerability and improve resilience; encourage the reuse of existing resources, including the conversion of existing buildings; and support renewable and low-carbon energy and associated infrastructure. The NPPF expects Local Plans to take account of climate change over the longer term; local authorities should adopt proactive strategies to reduce carbon emissions and recognise the objectives and provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008. In July 2021 we updated the NPPF, placing a stronger emphasis on delivering sustainable development and a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change. Simultaneously, we also published the National Model Design Code which guides local authorities on measures they can include within their own design codes to create environmentally responsive and sustainable places. The National Model Design Code encourages the implementation of sustainable construction that focuses on reducing embodied energy, designing for disassembly and exploring the remodel and reuse of buildings where possible rather than rebuilding. The National Model Design Code also provides tools and guidance for local planning authorities to help ensure developments respond to the impacts of climate change, are energy efficient, embed circular economy principles and reduce carbon emissions. Local authorities have the power to set local energy efficiency standards that go beyond the minimum standards set through the Building Regulations, through the Planning and Energy Act 2008. In January 2021, we clarified in the Future Homes Standard consultation response that in the immediate term we will not amend the Planning and Energy Act 2008, which means that local authorities still retain powers to set local energy efficiency standards that go beyond the minimum standards set through the Building Regulations. In addition, there are clear policies in the NPPF on climate change as set out above. The Framework does not set out an exhaustive list of the steps local authorities might take to meet the challenge of climate change and they can go beyond this. We are considering the best way forward for the planning reforms, taking account of stakeholder feedback and responses to our White Paper. As part of our review of the NPPF, we will consider how planning policy can best support local authorities in efforts to deliver net zero.