This guide aims to provide a brief introduction to sustainable design principles related to climate change and is linked to the Council’s Sustainable Construction Checklist (see downloadable Checklist to the right).
The Guidelines and Checklist are for:
· Developers, including home owners, submitting planning applications in the region.
· Development control officers assessing planning applications and engaging in pre-application discussions.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to delivering sustainable development in the region. It requires principles addressing climate change to be designed into schemes from the outset in order to achieve development that:
· Has little or no contribution to carbon dioxide emissions and climate related risks in the locality.
· Adopts features that increase resilience and adaptability to changes in climate that are expected over the lifetime of the development.
These two objectives can be tackled through decisions in the design process and should follow on from establishing whether the site is in an area at risk from current or future climate change impacts such as flooding, wind damage, land erosion or water shortages. Relevant design considerations are included in the checklist as energy efficient design, energy consumption, water, construction materials, transport and the historic and natural environment.
Each checklist question is derived from ‘The Planning Response to Climate Change: Advice on Better Practice’ document published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now the Department for Communities and Local Government) in September 2004. The relevant extract of this document is repeated below to put the checklist questions into context. Detailed technical queries can be directed to the relevant organisations listed at the end of this guidance document where there is also a glossary of selected terms.
If you would like some assistance or advice on your Sustainable Construction Checklist please contact Funda Willetts on funda_willetts@bathnes.gov.uk or 01225 477427.