Written - Planning for Climate Change

I am announcing tomorrow further planning initiatives to help us to deliver our climate change commitments. The documents to be published tomorrow are intended to improve the sustainability of new and existing buildings including reducing their carbon emissions.

Since the conclusion of the Planning for Climate Change consultation in March 2007, it has been necessary to review the proposed policies in order to take into account the progress on the Climate Change agenda in Wales. Most notably this includes the 2011 Zero Carbon aspiration, the One Wales commitment to the devolution of Building Regulations and the adoption of the Code for Sustainable Homes in Wales.

The consultation document announced tomorrow sets out proposed amendments to the draft Planning for Climate Change MIPPS (12/06).

The proposed policies cover: -

Sustainable Building Standards: - A national development control policy for all major developments (10 or more dwellings or 1000 M2 for other buildings) to initially meet at least Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, or 'Very Good' of the BREEAM standard for non-residential developments (including a minimum 25% carbon reduction on regulated emissions).

Merton 'plus': - A national development control policy requiring all major developments to secure at least a 10% reduction in carbon emissions using on-site/near-site local renewable and/or low carbon sources.

Strategic Sites: - A policy providing flexibility to local planning authorities to set higher sustainable building standards and percentage requirements above the national minimum standard on strategic sites, where opportunities exist.
The policy will apply to planning applications submitted after 1st April 2009. The approach complements our objective to secure devolution of the building regulations and will be reviewed once the outcome devolution is known.

The second document to be published tomorrow has been produced to encourage householders undertaking improvement works to their homes to carry them out in a way that helps to tackle climate change. During the past year local planning authorities in Wales received over 13,000 householder applications so the potential to influence behaviour is significant. These include substantial alterations and improvements, such as extensions, porches and garage conversions.

With the help of the Design Commission for Wales, the Energy Saving Trust and the Welsh Local Government Association, I am tomorrow launching a new publication, the 'Improving your Home - A Climate Change Guide', which details 10 common projects that a householder may carry out to improve their home. Alongside these projects are a number of measures that can be undertaken to respond to climate change in the most effective way. For example, when a householder is thinking of adding an extension to their home they are encouraged to think about the orientation of the extension to maximise natural daylight and heat to reduce carbon emissions. There also may be opportunities to improve the fabric of the existing building at the same time, for example by upgrading insulation or installing a more efficient heating system. These small measures and changes in how people think about improving their home, can go a long way to reducing carbon emissions and making sure that the existing stock can be resilient to climate change.

The consultation will commence during the week beginning on 7th July for 12 weeks until 3rd October 2008. The finalised policies will be incorporated into a consolidated version of Planning Policy Wales due to be published later this year.