Agenda item

This report outlines new supplementary planning guides to help ensure new homes and development are more friendly to the environment. The new ‘Supplementary Planning Document’ offers guidance to developers, landowners, homeowners, planning officers and other interested parties when preparing and assessing planning applications.

The new supplementary policies would apply to all new build homes, extensions and retrofitting of homes, non-domestic and mixed-use developments.

David Gawthorpe (Team Leader, Planning and Economic Development) provided a presentation on the Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which helped ensure new homes and developments were more friendly to the environment. The new SPD offered guidance to developers, landowners, homeowners, planning officers and other interested parties when preparing and assessing planning applications. He showed slides which covered the following aspects:

• Climate change and planning
• The policy background.
• The key aims and structure of the guidance.
• The key principles of the policy
• The public consultation feedback
• The delivery timeline and next steps

Councillor Jose Afonso asked for further clarification to be provided on the main issues surrounding homes with older windows within conservation areas. David Gawthorpe noted that planners were keen to replace the traditional timber sash windows or replicate them with a modern alternative to ensure that the property was being conserved in the best way possible.

The Chair enquired if there was an opportunity for pre application discussions to be held with developers and homeowners to either build or extend their properties prior to a Planning Committee. In response David Gawthorpe explained that some preapplication discussions were held, particularly with developers. He felt that these were beneficial to encourage the use of better products and offer advice on how properties could be developed in an environmentally friendly way.

In relation to the adaptability of buildings, Councillor Stala Antoniades suggested that it would be useful include a stipulation for the requirement of balconies for commercial buildings to improve natural ventilation and the wellbeing of employees through their working environment. In response David Gawthorpe thanked Councillor Stala Antoniades for her suggestion and noted that this could be considered as part of the new policy for the local plan. He explained that further discussions would be held with specialist team members to ascertain if this could also be included in the SPD.

Action: David Gawthorpe

Councillor Stala Antoniades queried if there was any scope to future proof buildings to accommodate the fitting of air source heat pumps. David Gawthorpe said that officers were striving to achieve this by encouraging new renewables on properties. Officers would ensure that there was good practice available outside of the planning remit for residents to follow and implement.

Councillor Stala Antoniades also requested that the SPD be updated with some guidance around more affordable alternative options to double glazed sash windows such as secondary glazing, curtains, and thermal blinds for housing within the conservation areas.

Action; David Gawthorpe

The Chair queried if there was any plans for the government to introduce improved guidelines for conservation areas. In response David Gawthorpe explained that conservation areas currently did not have permitted development rights. The government was frequently updating their development rights policy, however he felt that for now it was likely that they would continue to recommend that conservation areas followed the planning process.

David Woodward (Planning Officer, Planning and Economic Development) explained that officers responded to all government consultations submitted to the Council. Therefore, this issue would be raised at the first opportunity if the Council received any proposals that included development rights for conservation areas within the borough.

Councillor Paul Alexander asked whether the Council recommended a more holistic approach for the selection of building materials and questioned how this could be achieved.  David Gawthorpe explained that people had the option to choose their own products and the Council did not have the power to insist on what was being used. However, as technology progressed officers would improve the SPD, including the Council’s website to promote better practice, on the use of environmentally friendly products. 

Councillor Wesley Harcourt (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology) commented SPD offered guidance only and was not a compulsory document. He asked for further clarification to be provided on the timescales for the completion of the local plan so that some of the key issues identified could be included as mandatory requirements. David Gawthorpe said that officers would work in collaboration with the Climate Change team to review the local plan. Whilst officers had not yet committed to a timeframe for this, it was anticipated that an exercise to collect and build some evidence would take place this year with the view to begin consultation next year.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt stressed the urgency of introducing the necessary changes to the local plan. He noted that this was important to ensure that fundamental climate change issues particularly within new developments were being addressed and made mandatory in line with the Council’s climate and ecological emergency target.

Action: David Gawthorpe / Jim Cunningham

The Chair thanked officers for their presentation and provided a brief summary of the key points discussed. She recommended the importance of frequent pre-application discussions, to encourage the use of natural materials for the development of properties going forward.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1.    Noted and comment on the report.

2.    Gave feedback on the strategy, progress, and priorities.