Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan

(1)Chapter 5 – Climate Change and Energy

Climate Change

(6)The impacts of Climate Change in the UK

5.1 As a result of increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, UK average land temperatures have increased by around 1.2 C since the pre-industrial period. UK sea levels have risen by 16cm since 1900, with a resultant impact on coastal communities and coastal infrastructure.

5.2 The UK is set to experience a further 0.5°C increase in average annual temperature by 2050, even under ambitious global scenarios for cutting carbon emissions. The general impact this will have on the UK is expected to be warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, and the increased likelihood of disruptive extreme weather-driven events including:

• Increases in average and extreme temperatures.
• Changes to rainfall patterns, leading to flooding events in some places, and water scarcity and drought in others; and
• More frequent disruptive weather, including storms and high winds.

(3)National legislation and policies

5.3 In 2019, the UK Government set out a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the whole UK by 2050. This commitment, legally enshrined by the Climate Change Act (2008), means the UK now has less than 30 years to completely decarbonise its economy.

5.4 To ensure sustained progress towards net zero, the government set a series of targets to reduce near and medium-term emissions through legally binding carbon budgets. The fourth, fifth and sixth carbon budgets cover the periods 2023-2027, 2028-2032 and 2033-2017 respectively. In December 2020, the UK committed to an interim target to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2030 as part of the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution towards delivering the goals of the Paris Agreement.

5.5 To the end of 2022, over 75% of UK local authorities including South Kesteven have declared a climate emergency. Across the country, councils are taking urgent action in their local areas to combat the negative impacts of climate change and to reduce carbon emissions towards the UK government's carbon targets.

5.6 The NPPF also tasks the planning system with place shaping to contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability to climate change and improving resilience, encouraging the reuse of existing resources, and supporting renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure.

(5)The Built Environment

5.7 Buildings are currently responsible for more than 40% of global energy use, and one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. South Kesteven is in line with this global pattern: in 2020, Domestic, Industrial, Commercial and Public Sector buildings accounted for just under 40% of overall reported greenhouse gas emissions.

(6)The issue for South Kesteven

5.8 The district of South Kesteven both contributes to the effects of climate change through carbon emissions and is impacted at a local level by a changing climate. At a local level, the main impacts projected for the East Midlands area include flooding, water stress and periods of prolonged overheating.

5.9 It is clear we are already feeling the effects of a changing climate, both at home and further afield. The UK record for the highest ever temperature recorded was broken on 19th July 2022 at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, with a temperature of 40.3°C.

5.10 Further impacts of climate change are likely to include:

• Heatwaves which become more frequent, more prolonged and more extreme
• Flooding from watercourses
• Surface water flooding from heavy rainfall events
• Disruptive weather including storms and hail
• Increased risk of cold snaps

5.11 The Council has commissioned a Climate Change Study to accord with the NPPF, the results of which will be used to formulate new policy ensuring that the Local Plan takes a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long term implications of flood risk, water supply, biodiversity and landscapes and the risk of overheating from rising temperatures. New policy will also seek to support appropriate measures to ensure future resilience of communities and infrastructure to climate change impacts.

5.12 The Council recognises the need for urgent action to address climate change and in 2019 declared a climate emergency. The Council also published a Climate Action Strategy in 2023, which includes ambitions to deliver on climate change including the key themes of the Built Environment, Power and Transport which overlap with the scope of the Local Plan.

5.13 Whilst the Local Plan cannot alone achieve net-zero carbon targets for the district (for example there is a limited influence over existing buildings), the scope of a Local Plan can help to ensure that new development is appropriate for a low carbon future and is responsive to a changing climate.

5.14 A climate change evidence base is presented in support of this local plan to set out a strategic approach supported by robust evidence to address climate change, carbon reduction and consideration of adaptation to a changing climate. This sets out the legal basis for a Local Plan to address climate change and contribute towards national targets to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

5.15 The evidence presented was completed throughout 2023 in support of the Local Plan, in order to shape policy recommendations. However, on 13th December 2023 a new Written Ministerial Statement was issued, which has the effect of limiting how planning authorities can require improvements on energy efficiency for new buildings. As a result, proposed policies for climate change and energy are under review and will be shared following this stage of the consultation.

5.16 The scope of the policy recommendations is set to include consideration of:

• Principles for energy efficient buildings (domestic and non-domestic)
• Principles for climate resilient buildings
• Embodied carbon and waste
• Reducing energy consumption in existing buildings
• Water efficiency
• Renewable energy

(7)Renewable Energy

5.17 The Council is the responsible local planning authority for renewable and low carbon development. As such, the Local Plan needs to consider how to plan positively for renewable energy and its delivery.

5.18 Paragraph 158 of the NPPF reads:

'Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long-term implications for flood risk, coastal change, water supply, biodiversity and landscapes, and the risk of overheating from rising temperatures, in line with the objectives and provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008.'

5.19 The 2015 Planning Guidance states "when drawing up a Local Plan local planning authorities should first consider what the local potential is for renewable and low carbon energy generation. In considering that potential, the matters local planning authorities should think about include:

• the range of technologies that could be accommodated and the policies needed to encourage their development in the right places;
• the costs of many renewable energy technologies are falling, potentially increasing their attractiveness and the number of proposals;
• different technologies have different impacts and the impacts can vary by place;
• the UK has legal commitments to cut greenhouse gases and meet increased energy demand from renewable sources. Whilst local authorities should design their policies to maximise renewable and low carbon energy development, there is no quota which the Local Plan has to deliver."

5.20 The adopted Local Plan does not identify specific areas suitable for renewable provision, instead it sets out the key criteria that shall be taken into consideration when proposals for renewable energy provision are received.

5.21 South Kesteven District Council has a Renewable Energy Appendix published in support of the adopted Local Plan (2011-2036). As part of the emerging Climate Change Study this is under review in order to provide policy that reflects an up to date analysis of the domestic and industry landscape for renewable energy.

5.22 The is also a need to consider renewable energy requirements for new development, closely linked with the scope of policy changes set out above regarding energy efficient buildings, particularly in light of the impact of the Written Ministerial Statement.