Dorset Council has prepared three draft guidance documents to assist in addressing climate change through planning. The documents provide guidance on considering climate change when planning applications are being prepared and decided. The documents are:
- Planning for climate change: Interim Guidance and Position Statement - provides commentary on the weight that can be given to climate change in decision making and sets out considerations for new buildings and stand-alone renewable energy schemes in relation to climate change, given current planning policy.
- Sustainability Checklist - to be completed by applicants in support of planning applications. The checklist covers sustainable design and construction measures for new development, and provides best practice guidance on what can be done to achieve net zero carbon development.
- Listed buildings: what you can do for climate change – a guidance note outlining measures to consider when looking at energy efficiency in Listed Buildings.
They are asking for the views of Dorset residents on these draft documents, before they are published for use.
You can find the consultation at: https://consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/spatial-planning/dorset-council-planning-for-climate-change/
The consultation closes on 8th June 2023.
Planet Wimborne Campaigns Group will make a formal response to the consultation but we urge everyone to read the documents and respond to the Council about these updated planning rules. This will also show our Councillors how important it is for them to be tackling the climate and ecological emergency.