Planning and new build

Approximately 50 per cent of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions can be attributed to buildings, of which over 27 per cent originate from residential housing.

For local authorities with planning responsibilities, the land use planning system will be a highly powerful tool in ensuring new build developments are built to minimise their impact on the environment, contribute to carbon dioxide emissions reduction and are supportive to the development of a decentralised sustainable energy supply.

There is clear direction from Government in planning policy statements that local planning authorities can set bespoke planning policy that suits the needs and requirements of the area.

In light of this, as local planning authorities develop their new local development frameworks, strong consideration should be given to the type of policies required to ensure all new development is fit for purpose. It is therefore imperative that local planning authorities have the knowledge and expertise to help them move to zero carbon development.

Practical help can help you through this process. We have a range of planning resources for each nation in the UK. To access our resources for planners please click on the following links below or use the navigation panes on the left hand side of the page.