Planning reform: meeting net zero and climate adaptation goals
In our latest climate change blog, Sophie Broadfield, Chair of ADEPT’s South West Board and Executive Director for Sustainable Communities at Bath and North East Somerset Council, reflects on the recent Blueprint Coalition webinar.
The Blueprint Coalition - an influential group of local government organisations, environmental groups and research institutions – recently hosted a webinar, exploring how planning reforms can help meet net zero and climate adaptation goals.
With planning playing an increasingly vital role in climate action, I was pleased to chair this timely discussion, which brought together an impressive panel of local government leaders and planning experts to discuss how planning can contribute to net zero and climate adaptation goals.
We heard from five speakers: Gemma Burgess and Rhys Archer from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), sharing updates on national planning policy changes and the Future Homes Standard; Martin Elliott, Head of Strategic Planning at Leeds City Council, one of the country's largest planning authorities; Councillor Martyn Alvey, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change at Cornwall Council; and Celia Davis from the Town and Country Planning Association.
Together we explored how planning reforms can help local authorities deliver their climate action plans while navigating challenges around viability, development targets, and community engagement.
Setting the context: Bath and North East Somerset's journey
As Chair of ADEPT’s South West Board - and from my experience at Bath and North East Somerset Council - I've seen firsthand how planning can directly shape our response to climate change. Our council has pioneered some of the country's most forward thinking policies, including becoming the first English local authority to require net zero operational energy in new buildings. This experience has shown us both the possibilities and challenges of implementing ambitious climate policies through planning.
Our journey hasn't been without its challenges. Following our climate emergency declaration in 2019, we faced early difficulties when a fossil fuel power station was approved under previous policies, highlighting the urgent need for policy reform. Since then, we've developed comprehensive approaches including embodied carbon policies for larger developments and a 'retrofit first' principle that prioritises the use of existing buildings.
We're also taking an innovative 'vision and validate' approach to transport planning, designing around desired movement patterns, rather than assuming every new home needs two car parking spaces. Additionally, our Green Heritage Homes project provides specialised pre-application advice for retrofitting listed buildings, demonstrating how climate action can be balanced with heritage preservation.
National policy developments: updates from MHCLG
Gemma Burgess and Rhys Archer from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government shared significant recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. These changes strengthen support for renewable and low carbon developments and, for the first time, explicitly align the planning system with net zero goals. They emphasised how these reforms, while primarily focused on delivering the government's target of 1.5 million homes, include important environmental measures.
The Ministry is also developing new guidance on carbon accounting for local authorities, marking an important step forward in emissions reduction planning. Looking ahead, they indicated that spring 2025 will see consultation on a new set of national policies for decision making, with climate change considerations being a key focus area for potential further reform.
Learning from Leeds
Martin Elliott from Leeds City Council shared their progress since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, from transitioning council operations to renewable energy to developing car-independent transport plans. As one of the country's top housing delivery authorities, with 4,000 homes delivered last year, Leeds has demonstrated how growth can align with environmental goals through initiatives like district heating networks and minerals transportation by barge.
However, their experience also highlighted the challenges of implementing climate focused planning updates amid policy uncertainty. Their planned Local Plan update, which included ambitious energy use intensity targets and home quality standards, had to be paused due to viability concerns and changes in national policy direction. This has led them to explore more nuanced approaches that recognise different market conditions across the city.
Cornwall's pioneering approach
Councillor Martyn Alvey shared how Cornwall Council is leading the way and how net zero standards can become the norm in new developments. Their Climate Change Development Plan Document, adopted in February 2023, sets specific energy performance requirements while maintaining the flexibility needed to work with major developers. The policy has already shown success, with around 1,300 new homes approved under net zero standards in its first year.
The Council's approach has also catalysed wider changes in construction practices, with developers increasingly adopting renewable materials and innovative heating solutions. Their experience shows that through careful engagement with both local stakeholders and developers, ambitious climate policies can be implemented while maintaining housing delivery, with their housing numbers increasing from 2,700 to 4,500 per year.
The path forward: TCPA perspectives and key challenges
Celia Davies from the Town and Country Planning Association emphasised how local innovation is driving climate action, despite current policy barriers. She highlighted the particular significance of recent NPPF changes regarding renewable energy and the broader definition of climate resilience, which provide important hooks for local authorities to address issues such as water scarcity and urban heating.
While welcoming these developments, Davies stressed the need for stronger measures, including revising the Written Ministerial Statement that currently limits local authorities' ambitions. She advocated for mandatory carbon accounting in the planning system and emphasised the importance of aligning planning reform with carbon budget requirements rather than just the 2050 net zero target.
Looking ahead
The webinar reinforced the strong commitment of local authorities to environmental leadership, while also underscoring the need for clearer national policy support.
Success stories from Cornwall and Bath and North East Somerset prove that ambitious climate policies are possible, though many authorities are still looking for more national guidance.
With the Future Homes Standard and planning reforms on the horizon, these shared experiences provide valuable insights for local authorities aiming to drive their climate goals forward through planning. By building on these lessons and pushing for stronger national policies, climate ambition can be turned into meaningful, lasting change.
You can watch the webinar here: https://www.adeptnet.org.uk/news/blueprint-webinar-adaptation-and-planning-reform
Further information
Author
Sophie Broadfield is Chair of ADEPT’s South West Board and Executive Director for Sustainable Communities at Bath and North East Somerset Council.
