As the National Planning Policy Framework consultation comes to an end, UK100’s interim chief executive has written to Michael Gove with “serious concerns”
As the National Planning Policy Framework consultation comes to an end, concerns have been raised about the government’s proposed changes to the planning system as part of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.
UK100’s interim chief executive, Jason Torrance, has written to the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, Michael Gove, with a series of recommendations for enshrining the UK’s environmental commitments within the planning system, as well as raising questions about new methods of setting standards for net zero.
The National Planning Policy Framework consultation has garnered several responses
UK100, a cross-party network of UK local leaders committed to net zero and clean air action, has built on the recommendations set out in the consultation response submitted by the Better Planning Coalition, of which UK100 is a member.
In the letter to Michael Gove, Jason Torrance calls on the secretary of state to ensure the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) “address[es] the climate and ecological emergency, seize[s] the economic opportunities that the transition to Net Zero presents and build[s] communities and infrastructure resilient to the worst impacts of climate change.”
Key recommendations in the letter include:
- Ensuring the NPPF is formally bound to the Climate Change Act, making net zero targets a key foundation of local plans
- Giving local planning authorities the power to prioritise the Climate Change Act in planning policy while removing the competition between climate mitigation and adaptation criteria and other ‘planning contributions’
- The implementation of a national framework for Local Area Energy Planning to give more power and a greater role to local and regional authorities to develop a balanced energy system
- Giving local authorities planning powers or a regulation code to insist on certain types of technologies (and ban others) in new and existing buildings in net zero heat zones, following the measures proposed in the Energy Bill
NDMPs have also been called into question
The letter also raises “serious concerns” about the proposed National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) and the implication for local authorities delivering ambitious climate-focussed local plans.
The letter calls for Michael Gove to ensure the NDMPs do not weaken, override or remove powers provided to local authorities.
The letter concludes by asking the secretary of state to meet with a group of UK100 members to further discuss their concerns and recommendations.
The full text of the letter can be read below:
Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Wednesday 8th March 2023
Dear Secretary of State,
UK100 is a network of local leaders who have pledged to lead a rapid transition to Net Zero with Clean Air in their communities ahead of the government’s legal target.
We were pleased to welcome you, together with 30 Mayors and City Leaders, to two Clean Air Summits back in 2019 and are now writing to you following our response, as part of the Better Planning Coalition, to the consultation for the National Planning Policy Framework.
In conjunction with our members from local authorities throughout the United Kingdom, we have a number of recommendations for the framework. In order to address the climate and ecological emergency, seize the economic opportunities that the transition to Net Zero presents and build communities and infrastructure resilient to the worst impacts of climate change, we need to take concrete steps towards meeting the UK’s environmental commitments within the planning system.
Firstly, the NPPF must be formally bound to the Climate Change Act, making Net Zero targets a foundation of local plans. UK100 believes that this single action would make a dramatic contribution to the UK meeting its Net Zero targets. Were this change to be introduced, it would need to be associated with a reporting mechanism that would introduce a requirement to ‘carbon audit’ Local Plans.
Secondly, we need to provide a framework for meeting these commitments, including the development of design codes, Local Environment Improvement Plans, and other mechanisms to check that Net Zero targets are being met with appropriate speed and action. Local planning authorities should also have the power to prioritise the Climate Change Act in planning policy, and the competition between climate mitigation and adaptation criteria and other ‘planning contributions’ should be removed.
We also recommend the implementation of a national framework for Local Area Energy Planning to give more power and a greater role to local and regional authorities to develop a balanced energy system. This system should combine large-scale power generation with local decentralised energy systems. The NPPF must ensure that every area is covered by a Net Zero Local Area Energy Plan, and guidance should be provided to local authorities which is relevant to different types of areas.
In addition, local authorities should be given planning powers or a regulation code to insist on certain types of technologies (and ban others) in new and existing buildings in Net Zero heat zones, following the measures proposed in the Energy Bill. Furthermore, local authorities should be given powers to require buildings to connect to district heating schemes in identified district heating zones and to require existing developments to connect, in line with the measures proposed in the Energy Bill.
Lastly, UK100 continues to have serious concerns around the proposed National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) and the implication for our members delivering ambitious climate-focussed local plans. The NDMPs must not weaken, override or remove powers provided to local authorities.
Implementing these recommendations will be a significant step towards addressing climate change and meeting our environmental commitments.
We would be grateful if in addition to considering UK100’s response to the NPPF consultation if you would agree to meet with a cohort of our member local authorities to discuss the role of planning and local government in achieving the government’s Net Zero targets. Please let us know when you might have availability to meet.
Yours sincerely,
Jason Torrance,
Interim Chief Executive
UK100
