Climate change

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To ensure that new developments are appropriately adapted to the impacts of present and future climate change and to minimise their own impact on greenhouse gases, flooding, heat gain, water resources and water quality.

Read the background on Climate change

Question 1.1

Objective

To ensure that sites and developments take due account of flood risk, and where it is present, take appropriate measures.

Importance:

Question

Is the development sited and designed in accordance with the sequential test set out in PPS 25?

Site is within Zone 1 on Environment Agency floodmap. For sites over 1ha: Flood Risk Assessment produced as per PPS25, vulnerability to flooding from sources other than river and sea considered, and the impact of hard surfaces and surface water run-off considered. Layout and design of development to reduce risk of flooding and impact of flooding, and mitigation measures to reduce the potential of the development to increase flooding elsewhere.
For Zone 2 sites: No suitable Zone 1 sites available. No “highly vulnerable” uses within the development application. Flood Risk Assessment produced as per PPS25, layout and design of development to reduce risk of flooding and impact of flooding, and mitigation measures to reduce the potential of the development to increase flooding elsewhere. Design measures incorporated to reduce the depth and speed of flooding to adjacent and surrounding properties. Demonstration that residual risks of flooding (after existing and proposed flood management and mitigation measures are taken into account) are acceptable. Management and mitigation risks may include flood defenses, flood resistant and resilient design, escape/evacuation, flood warning and emergency planning, robust infrastructure and utility provision.
For Zone 3a sites: No suitable Zone 1 or Zone 2 sites available. Only “less vulnerable” or “water compatible” uses within the development proposal. Flood Risk Assessment produced as per PPS25, layout and design of development to reduce risk of flooding and impact of flooding, and mitigation measures to reduce the potential of the development to increase flooding elsewhere. Design measures incorporated to reduce the depth and speed of flooding to adjacent and surrounding properties. Demonstration that residual risks of flooding (after existing and proposed flood management and mitigation measures are taken into account) are acceptable. Management and mitigation risks may include flood defenses, flood resistant and resilient design, escape/evacuation, flood warning and emergency planning, robust infrastructure and utility provision.
For Zone 2 sites: No suitable Zone 1 sites available. Development proposal includes “highly vulnerable” uses. Proposed development passes the Exception Test set out in PPS 25, and meets the requirements of (B) above.
For Zone 3a sites: No suitable Zone 1 or 2 sites available. Development includes “more vulnerable” uses (but not “highly vulnerable” uses). Proposed development passes the Exception Test set out in PPS 25, and meets the requirements of© above.

NB: Essential infrastructure developments of the type acceptable in Zone 3b is unlikely to be covered by this checklist.

Targets and Justification

Best: As per A
Good: As per B or C
Minimum: As per D or E

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.2

Objective

To reduce the risk of flooding on proposed development sites and adjacent areas of land

Importance:

Question

What measures have been taken to reduce the contribution the development may make to flash flooding?

Targets and Justification

Best: Site is demonstrated to be able to contain rainfall from 1:500 year events
Good: Site is demonstrated to be able to contain rainfall from 1:250 year rain events
Minimum: Site is demonstrated to be able to contain rainfall from 1:100 year rain events

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.3

Objective

To reduce the impact of mechanical ventilation and cooling devices.

Importance:

Question

How will ventilation and cooling be provided?

Targets and Justification

Best: Powered by renewable energy or ground water heat exchanger
Good: Electrically powered and waste heat recovered and reused
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.4

Objective

To reduce the heat island effect inherent to urban areas through passive design measures. On warm summer days, the air in urban areas can be 6-8°F hotter than surrounding areas. Scientists call these areas "urban heat islands." This is due to building materials (particularly darker materials such as tarmac, and heavier materials such as concrete) absorbing and radiating heat.

Importance:

Question

Will the development seek to reduce the likelihood of contributing to a heat island effect through:

Provision of appropriate shaded green space and tree cover
Green roofs and vegetated walls
Design to enable air-flow throughout the development
Passive Solar design
Open water and fountains in public spaces
Shaded public spaces and footpaths

Targets and Justification

Best: Yet to be established
Good: A design strategy which addresses at least the above points
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.5

Objective

To reduce the overall consumption of clean water for non-potable uses and to manage the run off of rain water from the site.

Importance:

Question

What percentage of domestic water use in operation will be provided for by rain water collection and / or grey water recycling systems?

Targets and Justification

Best: > 50%
Good: 25% – 50%
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.6

Objective

To increase the overall efficiency of the development through energy efficient design and management

Importance:

Question

What steps will the developer take to prepare an energy strategy for the proposed development to optimise the energy consumption of the site?

Minimising energy demand for the site through orientation and passive solar design,
Maximising the thermal efficiency of individual buildings through thermal mass and insulation
Minimising demand for water heating, space heating and cooling, lighting and power in individual dwellings through efficient equipment and controls
Calculating the residual energy demand for the site
Maximising the amount of the residual demand which can be provided through on-site generated renewable energy (either collective or on individual dwellings)
Meeting the remaining demand efficiently, e.g. CHP (non-biomass or waste powered), district heating and cooling, ground source heating and cooling

Targets and Justification

Best: Steps A to F completed
Good: Steps B to E completed
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.7

Objective

To promote the increased use of renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels producing CO2 emissions.

Importance:

Question

What % of total site energy demand will be produced from an on-site renewable scheme (e.g. wind, solar, hydro photovoltaic bank, CHP operating on biomass or waste)?

Targets and Justification

Best: Zero energy related carbon emissions
Good: > 10%
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.8

Objective

To increase the use of sustainable heating techniques.

Importance:

Question

To what extent will the development take into account the hierarchy for feasible heating systems.

Solar Water heating
Tri-generation or co-generation, preferably powered by renewable
Community Heating
Heat pumps
Gas condensing boilers

Targets and Justification

Best: B, A
Good: D, C
Minimum: Gas condensing boilers

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.9

Objective

To encourage the integration of renewable energy technologies during the design stage.

Importance:

Question

What percentage of buildings will be designed for and equipped with renewable energy technologies? (For example – Photovoltaics, wind turbines, heat pumps, solar heating)

Targets and Justification

Best: > 25%
Good: 10–25%
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.10

Objective

To encourage the future use of renewable energy technologies where they are not initially supplied.

Importance:

Question

What percentage of the development not intended to be initially fitted with renewable energy technologies will be designed to allow future installation of these technologies by occupiers?

Targets and Justification

Best: > 80%
Good: 60–80%
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 1.11

Objective

To provide easy access to site service and communications infrastructure, with minimal requirement disruption and need for reconstruction, and allowing for future growth in services.

Importance:

Question

Will site heating / cooling / power / water / sewerage and communications infrastructure running through the public realm be designed for easy access and allow for future expansion of services?

Targets and Justification

Best: Not yet established
Good: Single point access to infrastructure externally and space and additional ducting provided to allow for future expansion of services
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Large developments.

Question 1.12

Objective

To ensure that the masterplan considers the site wide distribution of on-site produced renewable energy.

Importance:

Question

Will the developer made site wide provision for an energy infrastructure that allows renewable energy to be sustained on site?

Targets and Justification

Best: Not yet established
Good: Private wire networks for renewable energy transmission and CHP provided across the site through a single point of access service corridor
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Large developments.

Question 1.13

Objective

To evolve a energy management scheme and provide the public with easy access to renewable energy information.

Importance:

Question

Will the site be smart metered, showing site occupiers net energy use, quantified over separate time periods?

Targets and Justification

Best: As Good Practice, plus metering data accessible for site occupants. Publicly accessible meter provided at energy source
Good: Site smart metered and information used to help evolve energy management scheme
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Policy Links

RSS

EN1: Energy Generation;
EN2: Energy Conservation;
QE3: Creating a high quality built environment for all;
QE1: Conserving & Enhancing the Environment;
QE4: Spaces;
QE9: The Water Environment.

RHS

Chapter 7.

RSDF

Sections 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.5;
PPS 25 - Flooding;
PPS 22 - Renewable Energy.

Development sizes

The checklist has been split into three different versions for different sizes of development:

Small: Up to 10 dwellings
Medium: 11 - 999 dwellings
Up to 999 dwellings (mixed use)
Large: 1,000 - 5,999 dwellings
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings (mixed)

If the development is for more than 6,000 houses, we recommend a bespoke checklist should be produced by the developer and local authority.

The set of questions for smaller developments is contained within the set of questions for larger developments.