Agenda item

This report seeks a view from Members on the approach taken in the redrafted Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG): Sustainable Design and Construction, before its goes forward to Planning Committee seeking approval for public consultation.

Members considered a report which sought their views on the approach taken in the re-drafted Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG): Sustainable Design and Construction, prior to its referral to the Planning Committee to seek approval for public consultation.

The SPG, attached as Annex A to the report, had been re-drafted to take account of comments received on the earlier draft, considered by the Group on 24 August.  In accordance with Members’ recommendations, the new draft included minimum standards in relation to Policy GP4a.  The report outlined the following options in respect of these standards:

Option A – to adopt the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the minimum standard to be set at “very good” and applicants to provide clear evidence as to why this could not be met.

Option B – to adopt the BREEAM standards as above but the length, detail and minimum standards required in the sustainability statement submitted under GP4a to be dependent upon the size and type of development. 

The draft SPG took the approach set out in Option B, in line with national policy guidance and advice from the BRE.  The latter advised that authorities should introduce a threshold when considering how to apply sustainability standards, to avoid placing undue costs on small developments.  A threshold of 5 new dwellings or 500 square metres was proposed.  Developments below this threshold would not require a BREEAM assessment but must still take account of sustainability issues.

Members discussed the proposals and agreed that the draft SPG should be amended in order to:

• Ensure that the questions to developers were appropriately worded, i.e. expressed as open questions where necessary.
• Exclude extensions from the BREEAM requirements and include more user-friendly information in the SPG for the benefit of the general public
• Clarify that the SPG applies to commercial as well as residential developments.
• Make it clear that, although the BREEAM minimum standard had been set at “very good”, developments meeting a higher standard would be welcomed and the Council would remain open to raising the standard in future to take account of technological advancements.
• Reduce the threshold for meeting BREEAM standards to a single dwelling on all items that would not incur significant additional costs.
• Make reference to requirements in respect of sustainable urban drainage.
• Require the optimum use of south facing roofs for solar generation facilities.  [Added at the meeting on 7/11/06.]

It was also suggested that consideration be given to:

·        Revising paragraph 4.34 of the SPG in order to maximise the opportunities for site renewable energy generation;

·        Including more detailed requirements in respect of trees;

·        Cross-referencing the SPG to the eco footprint targets in the Council’s Community Plan.

Officers also undertook to consider comments on the SPG received by e-mail from Barry Otley and circulated to Members before the meeting, and detailed Member comments.  [As amended at the meeting on 7/11/06.]

RESOLVED: (i)         That, subject to the above comments, the SPG be referred to the Planning Committee with a recommendation that it be taken out to public consultation.

REASON:      To implement Policy GP4a of the Draft Local Plan incorporating the fourth set of changes.

                        (ii)        That the making of any incidental changes or other changes to the document necessary as a result of the recommendation of this report be delegated to the Director of City Strategy and the Executive Member and Shadow Executive Member for City Strategy.

REASON:      So that the report can progress through to Planning Committee.