About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs/li>
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Policy options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest a variety of approaches:
- Keeping existing policy as it is
- Making small changes
- Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Policy option analysis
- A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.
Read the Climate Change topic paper , Natural Environment Topic Paper and Carbon Impact Assessment supporting document for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
Explore the policy
Select a section below to read more.
9.144 Adopted policy SCR7 set a new policy requiring a 100% reduction in operational carbon emissions from the buildings regulation standard in part L. The policy requires that energy efficiency should be maximised through efficient fabric and services with energy use being met through on site renewables.
9.145 A carbon reduction policy is not as accurate a metric as space heating and energy standards. However, it is difficult to set heating and energy use standards for non-residential buildings due to their varied typologies.
9.146 Option A looks at retaining the existing standards but broadening this policy to all new build non-residential buildings.
9.147 Option B looks at setting a space heating standard for non-residential buildings and the possibility of an energy use intensity standard.
9.148 Option C considers the use of BREEAM standards to assess the efficiency of the buildings in line with some other local authorities.
Option A
Retain the existing policy but apply the policy to all non-residential development.
Advantages of Option A
- The policy has been working well so far and to include all non-residential buildings will improve the standards of new building stock.
Disadvantages of Option A
- The policy uses building regulations to calculate the carbon reduction, which is less accurate than space heating and energy standards. Carbon reduction does not take account of a buildings form factor.
Option B
- Set a space heating requirement of 15kWh/m2/annum
- Explore the possibility of setting an energy use intensity standard for different non-residential typologies
- Continue to require energy needs to be met through on-site renewable energy generation
Advantages of Option B
- The use of space heating and EUI standards will result in a more accurate assessment of the buildings operation energy. Form factor can be taken into account. Changes to building regulations will not impact on the implementation of the policy.
Disadvantages of Option B
- Due to the variation in performance in non-residential buildings it may be difficult to set EUI standards.
- Any new standards may affect the viability of development.
Option C
Retain the existing policy but require all major and minor applications to meet as a minimum BREEAM excellent standards.
Advantages of Option C
- BREEAM is a widely used third party accreditation scheme. BREEAM ‘Excellent’ is the most common level of performance referred to, both in planning policy and corporate strategies.
Disadvantages of Option C
- The setting of BREEAM standards duplicates requirements of the existing operational energy, embodied carbon and environmental policies.
- BREEAM excellent does not meet a 100% carbon reduction.