Decision details

The Portfolio Holders for Planning and Regulatory and Environment are requested to approve publication of a Planning Advice Note on climate change and sustainable building. This document supports the adopted development plan documents and underpins requirements for submission of planning applications. It is intended to inform and signpost applicants to information on current ways in which new buildings can be constructed to good sustainability standards. It will help to ensure all applications address these matters through completion of a checklist. The Planning Advice Note has been produced to fulfil one of our commitments in the action plan. It is one of the Environment and Climate Change Taskforce measures under the Housing (including planning) theme using the local plan process to improve the environmental performance of new homes. 

Resolved:

That the publication of the climate change and sustainable building Planning Advice Note, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report number: CAB/WS/22/062, be approved.

The West Suffolk Local Plan will upgrade existing design and climate change related policies, and advice will be updated when this is adopted. But existing local plan policies are National Planning Policy Framework compliant and sufficiently robust to underpin the range of sustainability issues set out in the West Suffolk climate change and sustainable building Planning Advice Note (PAN) to be addressed fully at the planning application stage.

The PAN has been prepared to bring current guidance, advice notes and information to the attention of applicants to ensure the most up to date techniques are introduced to reduce carbon emissions and meet new standards and techniques that are available now.

The Portfolio Holders for Planning, and Regulatory and Environment have approved have both approved the PAN for publication.

This Planning Advice Note will provide advice and signpost applicants to many sources of guidance all aimed at improving the quality of construction and development in addressing climate change issues. Whilst the existing adopted local plan policies are in place a great deal of material has become available to guide people when making planning applications, and this PAN could contribute to developments that use energy and water more efficiently, use less energy in construction, are designed and constructed using sustainable materials, minimising and recycling waste and that consider biodiversity, provide open space and well designed access for pedestrians and cyclists.

The alternative is to do nothing, and to wait for the West Suffolk Local Plan to be adopted which, in the interim, could result in less informed and poorer quality applications being submitted with poorer outcomes for the climate and environment.