Report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing

The report considers how planning policy contributes to addressing climate change.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing that considered how planning policy contributed to addressing climate change.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing a general overview of current planning policy;

·         An update on emerging planning policy, Places for Everyone and the Manchester Local Plan;

·         A summary of proposals announced at the national level on 22 December 2022;

·         Key information on carbon standards for new build homes; flooding mitigation and heat island mitigation;

·         A summary of the current consultation on updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF); and

·         Potential future changes to NPPF via the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Recognising the challenges and barriers some residents had experienced when attempting to install energy efficiency measures to their homes due to the physical limitations of the building, consideration needed to be given to future proofing properties through the planning policy;

·         Discussion of the approach to enforcement of planning conditions, adding that residents needed confidence that agreements entered into as part of planning agreement were upheld and adhered to;

·         Noting the carbon emissions associated with the construction phase of developments;

·         Recognising that the National Planning Policy Framework was a critical development in addressing climate change; and

·         Recognising the importance of wildlife corridors to support and enhance biodiversity and that the National Planning Policy Framework should be used to maximise the delivery of these.

The Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing stated that climate change was at the forefront of all considerations and commented that a report entitled ‘Local Plan Update’ was to be considered at the Economy Scrutiny Committee that afternoon. In response to the comment raised regarding future proofing properties she commented that a distinction needed to be made between new build and retrofitting. She commented that a holistic approach was taken to energy efficiency and climate change by considering this in a wider context of place making and the wider physical environment, including supporting biodiversity. She advised that submissions would be made to the Future Homes Standard consultation, noting the Government had made a commitment to introducing a Future Homes Standard by 2025, for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. 

The Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing stated that they worked within existing legislation to enhance and maximise environmental benefits when negotiating with developers, making reference to bike storage and higher insulation standards in new developments. She added that good practice and experiences from other Authorities were also considered. 

In regard to enforcement of planning conditions, the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing stated that this was achieved via the conditions attached to a planning consent and associated legal agreements. She stated that in the vast majority of cases these were adhered to and that she would discuss the specific issue a Member had raised outside of the meeting.

The Planning and Infrastructure Manager acknowledged the comments raised regarding the levels of carbon associated with the construction phase of developments. He stated that a lot of research was underway to consider the materials used and viable alternatives and the findings of this would inform the Local Plan. The Committee requested that a report on this specific aspect of work relating to construction materials and carbon emissions be submitted for consideration at an appropriate time. The Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing added that all developments were required to have an agreed Construction Management Plan to minimise the worst impacts as a result of development and made reference to the Considerate Constructors Scheme.

Decision

To note the report.