Decision details

The SPD will help meet the cross-cutting objective of the Placemaking Plan to address climate change. It has now been consulted on and updated accordingly so is proposed for adoption.

The Cabinet Member agrees that the Council should adopt the Sustainable Construction Checklist Supplementary Planning Document.

The SCC SPD will support the Council to ensure that development delivered within the district helps to meet its target of a 45% cut in district wide CO2 emissions by 2029; to realise the economic opportunities of the low carbon economy and to alleviate the impact of rising energy prices.

1.  Keeping the SPD as a guidance document as per the previous Sustainable Construction Checklist. However, the benchmarks for CP2 on energy and overheating are a significant advance in our ability to implement the policy, so warrant the extra weight afforded by an SPD.

2.  Allow applicants to submit their own bespoke assessments to demonstrate policy compliance: This is the approach that has hitherto been taken and the majority of applications merely achieve compliance with national Building Regulations and leads applicants to frequently request clarity on what the Council deems policy compliant to reduce risk of planning failure.