Sustainable design and construction

Current Policy Framework

Background

On 6 July 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced the revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS), including the South East Plan. Therefore, the sustainable design and construction policies contained within that document no longer apply including policies CC4 and NRM11.

However, whilst the South East Plan is no longer in force, Waverley continue to rely on Saved Policy D3 of the Waverley Local Plan 2002, and Planning Policy Statement 1 supplement (PPS1s) for guidance relating to sustainable design and construction matters. Links to other relevant documents can be found at the bottom of this page.

Saved Policy D3 of the Waverley Local Plan 2002 reads:

Saved Policy D3 - Resources
Where a development is acceptable in principle, the Council will encourage environmentally innovative schemes which:- (a) conserve energy and water through appropriate location, design, layout, landscaping and materials; and (b) minimise the use of non-renewable resources through the re-use or recycling of previously developed land, buildings and materials.

In addition, PPS1s (paragraph 42) sets out what planning authorities should expect to see in new developments.

PPS1s - Paragraph 42 (in part)
Planning authorities should expect new development to: - comply with adopted development plan document (DPD) policies on local requirements for decentralised energy supply and for sustainable buildings; - take account of landform, layout, building orientation, massing and landscaping to minimise energy consumption, including maximising cooling and avoiding solar gain in the summer; and, overall, be planned so as to minimise carbon dioxide emissions through giving careful consideration to how all aspects of development form, together with the proposed density and mix of development, support opportunities for decentralised and renewable or low-carbon energy supply; - deliver high quality local environment; - provide public open space as appropriate; - give priority to the use of sustainable drainage systems; - provide for sustainable waste management; - create and secure opportunities for sustainable transport in line with PPG13.

It is considered that the above policy framework supports Waverley's continuing approach to encourage new development to incorporate at least 10% of the total energy consumption of a new development from decentralised energy or low carbon technology within their design. This tradition began with Policy SE2 of the Surrey Structure Plan (superseded by the South East Plan), where Waverley required 10% be included within new developments. Unfortunately this requirement has been gradually watered down through the changing policy framework at a time when sustainable design and construction is a key priority of the Council and the Government.

The Future

The emerging Core Strategy DPD is likely to include policies related to decentralised and renewable energy and low carbon technology within new development. Consideration will be given to whether supplementary planning documents are needed to support the policies of the Core Strategy DPD.

In addition Waverley understand that there are likely to be key changes to Building Regulations within 2010, specifically for new dwellings to improve energy efficiency measures by 25% above current Building Regulation (2006) requirements. This would ensure the energy efficiency of new dwellings would meet this element of level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.