The Council recently issued its draft Sustainability SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) for consultation. The SSPD seeks to provide “more detailed advice and guidance on the implementation of Local Plan policies” and is an opportunity to add strong definitions and lead to developers.
But has it achieved its potential?
In my view, the answer is “no”. There is much room for improvement and RBWM should add a few more consultative iterations to develop the document given the strategic importance of the document on helping developers, planning officers and Councillors.
Remember, the document has the potential to help both developers, council and householders reach net-zero Green House Gas (GHG / C) emissions, to live safely in their properties during extreme weather rather than inhabiting the death traps of the future, and safeguarding local biodiversity and greenspace for our children and future generations.
Surely it’s worth taking a bit more time to save lives?
An unsafe starting point
The Sustainability Supplementary Planning Document is a follow-up to the widely criticised Borough Local Plan and Section 1 cites the Council’s Environment and Climate Strategy as a further reference. But it is worth noting that the independent watchdog Climate Emergency UK has rated RBWM’s Environment and Climate Strategy as one of the poorest in the Country – https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/
However, the Borough Local Plan does contain a number of clauses which, if used effectively, could help achieve a high level of sustainability; This was part of the criticism aimed at the planning department in light of the applications on Spencers Farm in Maidenhead, AL21 North and South in Windsor/Bray, AL39 in Datchet
These clauses include SP2 ‘Climate Change’, QP2 ‘Green and Blue Infrastructure’, and NR2 ‘Nature Conservation and Biodiversity’
From the environmental point of view, it seems to fail to create credible, upgradable, methodologies to put robust environmental muscle on the bones of the BLP clauses to assist developers in achieving better things for future homeowners and RBWM residents.
Sadly, given the state of the document, future owners of these new homes will have to spend many more thousands of pounds to retrofit properties to be able to protect from the increasingly extreme weather hitting our shores and, to reduce energy costs.
Not ideal.
A few suggestions
RBWM could have taken the expression “mitigation” in SP2 and clarified that the only way to mitigate Climate Change is to emit zero or negative carbon. I say this because the UN and climate scientists have conceded that we are already at the +1.5C global warming point that our government, and so our legal system, has signed up to. Any further carbon emissions will breach our obligations under international treaties so, the only way to mitigate is to be Zero or negative from now on.
A similar point relates to Biodiversity, or more importantly, the creation of habitat that allows biodiversity to survive and thrive, rather than die out. Less habitat = less biodiversity.
The Council had the opportunity to implement credible ecosystem-enhancing methods and move away from the ludicrous Biodiversity Net Gain calculation methods that approve building hundreds of closely packed houses on pristine ecosystems and claim it’s better for biodiversity.
The Administration had the opportunity to shape transport requirements to fund local bus services so people could happily ditch polluting vehicles.
We should have ensured that people don’t suffer and die at home from extreme weather such as 45C heat.
The full list of Environment Focused Comments on the SPD
I have not explored issues relating to the building process, building materials, and construction to passivhaus standards as these are not my areas of expertise.
However, I do know a thing or two about Climate Science, Biodiversity, and the extreme weather our homes and infrastructure will have to protect residents from; to keep us safe, well, and working.
So, here are some of my suggestions for the Supplementary Planning Document
I hope you found this helpful.
Please help us help you.
Accountably yours,
Wisdom
Cllr. Wisdom Da Costa
West Windsor Residents Association
Clewer & Dedworth West