4.7 Tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergencies remains one of our a top priorities. It is critical that any new development aligns with our aims to tackle these emergencies. This will include how development is located and designed to promote accessible, sustainable transport and how our new and existing buildings continue to be decarbonised. While considering the challenges and opportunities for reducing our emissions, we must also plan for the changes in the climate that we are already seeing, and will continue to see. Flooding, overheating and other extreme weather events will increase in frequency and severity. Considering these climate risks is critical to the spatial strategy, in order to minimise the potential climate impact in the locations of development.
4.8 The landscape within Bath and North East Somerset enriches people’s lives and is an important influence on the location and form of new development. The attractiveness and character of the landscape should be maintained and enhanced for its own sake, its economic benefits and because of the role it plays in residents’ quality of life. The quality of the landscape is evidenced through National Landscape (previously Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) designations shown on the map below, including the Cotswolds National Landscape and Mendip Hills National Landscape. In addition to these designations, Bath and North East Somerset is covered by a range of different landscape characters that are valued by those that live and work in and visit the District, as well as important landscape settings to settlements.
Figure 8: Map of B&NES with National Landscapes and the World Heritage Site marked
4.9 In 2020 we declared an Ecological Emergency, recognising the severity of the degradation of the natural environment and loss of wildlife, the consequences of this, and the urgent need to take action to restore nature. Protecting habitat and supporting nature’s recovery (including through Biodiversity Net Gain) are important objectives for us. Opportunities to better facilitate nature’s recovery are being identified through a Local Nature Recovery Strategy and supported by new and amended planning policy. The need to both protect priority habitats and facilitate nature recovery influence the spatial strategy and locations for development.