Natural Resources

SA Objective 16: To Maximise the Use of Previously Developed Urban Land

Indicator: The Proportion of New Houses Built or Converted on Previously Developed Land

Percentage of New and Converted Dwellings Built on Previous Developed Land 2000 - 2001 79.8 2001 - 2002 77.2 2002 - 2003 82.9 2003 - 2004 69.2 2004 - 2005 72.9 2005 - 2006 98.0 2006 - 2007 98.0 2007 - 2008 99.0 2008 - 2009 99.4 2009 - 2010 98.8 2010 - 2011 93.0 2011 - 2012 97.0

Indicator: Proportion of New Commercial Development on Previously Developed Land

Percentage of Development on Previously Developed Land 2004- 2005- 2006- 2007- 2008- 2009- 2010- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Office 100 100 25 100 100 100 100 B1 (a) Research and Development N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A B1 (b) Light Industry N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A B1 (c) General Industry 100 100 50 61 100 100 100 B2 Storage and Distribution N/A N/A 100 N/A N/A N/A 100 B8 Total 100 100 41 70 100 100 100

Indicator: Area of Land in Wirral on the National Land Use Database (Formerly Total Area of Land Reclaimed and Brought Back into Beneficial Use for All Land Use Purposes, Including Open Space)

The National Land Use Database of previously-developed brownfield land is a record of previously-developed land, often called brownfield land, is land that was developed but is now vacant or derelict, and land currently in use with known potential for redevelopment.

Year Number of sites Area of Land included on the (hectares) National Land Use Database March 2007 361 342 March 2008 361 342 March 2009 287 291 March 2010 342 322 March 2011 288 305 March 2012 291 282

The map below illustrates the sites included on The National Land Use Database March 2012.

SA Objective 17: To Minimise Reliance on Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Indicator: Percentage of Energy Consumption from Renewable and Waste (Formerly Average Energy Consumption per Head)

Wirral’s estimated total energy consumption in 2009 was 5,910.5 GWh. This has fallen year on year from 2005. In 2009 the proportion of energy consumption in Wirral generated from renewable or waste sources was 0.04%. This is significantly less than the proportion in the North West (0.6%) and Great Britain (1.84%).

Percentage of Total Energy Consumption Generated from Renewable and Waste 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Wirral 0.03% 0.03% 0.03% 0.04% 0.04% North West 0.54% 0.47% 0.46% 0.49% 0.60% Great Britain 1.03% 1.15% 1.34% 1.46% 1.84% Source: DECC, Total Sub-National Final Energy Consumption, December 2011

Indicator: Number of Code for Sustainable Homes Certificates Issued (Formerly Percentage of New Homes Achieving “Good” or Better Score on The ECO Homes Rating Scheme)

The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code aims to reduce carbon emissions and create homes that are more sustainable. It is entirely voluntary, and is intended to help promote higher standards of sustainable design above current Building Regulations. The Code measures the sustainability of new homes against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. It covers energy/CO 2, water, materials, surface water runoff (flooding and flood prevention), waste, pollution, health and well-being, management and ecology.

The Code uses a one to six star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home against these nine categories. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

The table below shows cumulative total number of dwellings to-date that have been certified to the standards set out in the Code. Code certificates are issued at two stages, the design stage (early in the design and build process) and post construction stage (when the home is completed or nearing completion).

The total number of Code design stage certificates issued in Wirral has risen by 173% between June 2010 and June 2012. This falls below the rate of increase in Merseyside (316%), the North West (470%) and England (348%)

Cumulative Total Number of Code for Sustainable Homes Certificates Issued Wirral Merseyside North West England Post Post Post Post Design Design Design Design Construction Construction Construction Construction June 202 53 491 75 1,444 373 26,365 7,873 2010 Sept 202 53 609 108 1,987 675 34,999 12,668 2010 Dec 243 74 839 173 2,730 888 44,790 17,995 2010 March 278 92 941 260 3,268 1,505 56,225 24,285 2011 June 333 92 1,225 370 1,225 370 69,841 31,716 2011 Sept 377 184 1,487 689 5,273 3,139 82,914 41,595 2011 Dec 445 198 1,700 826 6,368 4,028 94,042 50,865 2011 March 445 206 1,814 990 7,449 4,621 107,433 62,668 2012 June 551 291 2,043 1,123 8,233 5,266 118,106 73,373 2012 Source: Code for Sustainable Homes Statistics

Deleted Indicator: Percentage of New Non-Residential Buildings Achieving “Good” or Better Score on the BREEAM Rating Scheme

Indicator deleted as up to date data is not available.

Indicator: Number and Type of Renewable Energy Schemes and Quantity of Power Generated

Data not available

SA Objective 18: To Promote Sustainable Drainage and Water Conservation

Indicator: Proportion of Development Incorporating Sustainable Drainage Systems

From April 2011, the Council gained additional responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 relating to the approval of proposed drainage systems in new developments and redevelopments, subject to certain thresholds and exemptions, having regard to minimum national standards. The Council, through the formation of a SuDS Approval Body (SAB), will approve the application for the drainage system and adopt and maintain it thereafter, it is expected that these powers will come into force April 2013.

Indicator: Average Water Consumption per Capita/Household

Until 2010-11, each water company sent Oftwat detailed information about their performance each year. This annual data submission (or ‘June return’) was published to allow customers and stakeholders to understand each company’s performance. From 2011-12 onwards Oftwat stopped collecting the June return, however Individual companies are required to publish the data collected on their own website.

The data is not collected by local authority area, United Utilities has four water resource zones and Wirral is part of the Integrated zone. The Table below shows the Average Water Consumption per Capita/Household

Year Unmeasured households Measured households 2006 144.74 132.06 2007 143.52 122.05 2008 143.39 116.46 2009 143.43 111.43 2010 141.68 112.98 2011* 141 116 2012* 142 108

Source: Ofwat June Returns (2006-2009), http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/publications#data United Utilities (2011/2012) http://corporate.unitedutilities.com/documents/Annual_Review_of_Water_Resource_Manage ment_Plan.pdf

SA Objective 19: To Minimise Waste Generation and Maximise Recycling

Indicator: Annual volume and proportion of waste sent to landfill, recycled and composted (Formerly Annual Volume of Waste Arising by Type and Source AND Proportion of Municipal Waste Recycled and Composted AND Annual Volume of Waste Sent to Landfill)

The overall level of waste generated in 2010-2011 stood at 132,538 tonnes, representing a reduction of almost 5 per cent since 2004-2005. The proportion of waste sent to landfill in Wirral reduced significantly between 2004-2005 and 2010- 2011, from over 125,000 tonnes to below 80,000 tonnes. Conversely, the proportion of municipal waste sent for recycling or composting increased during the same time period. In 2010-2011, 40 per cent (53,370 tonnes) of waste was recycled or composted, compared to 10 per cent (13,854 tonnes) in 2004-2005.

Waste arising 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 (tonnes) Landfill 125,440 137,097 121,693 93,655 86,186 83,639 79,168 (Percentage of 90 89 86 68 64 64 60 total arisings) Recycled 11,065 10,784 12,794 28,448 30,265 28,521 29,770 (Percentage of 8 7 9 21 22 22 22 total arisings) Composted 2,789 6,175 7,095 14,727 18,879 19,483 23,600 (Percentage of 2 4 5 11 14 15 18 total arisings) Grand Total 139,294 154,056 141,582 136,830 135,330 131,643 132,538 Source: DEFRA Local Authority Collected Waste for England – Annual Statistics

SA Objective 20: To Minimise the Impact of Flooding and Other Natural Hazards Including Climate Change

Indicator: Proportion of Completed New Development Sites in Flood Risk Areas

In 2004-2005 a total of 103 or 19.9% of new developments were built in areas at risk from flooding as designated by the Environment Agency. In 2011-2012 there were no new developments built in areas potentially liable to flooding. This may reflect a reduction in the amount of land within the Borough considered to be liable to flooding following further modelling work undertaken by the Environment Agency.

Type of New Number of new Number of New % of New Development developments Developments Developments Located within a Located within a flood risk area flood risk area (includes partially located within area) 2004/05 2011/12 2004/05 2011/12 2004/05 2011/12 New/Converted 505 268 100 0 19.8% - Houses New Industrial / Commercial 9 4 3 0 33.3% - Development Sites New Retail* / Office / Leisure 4 6 0 0 - - Development Sites TOTAL 518 278 103 0 *Retail figures for 2012 not yet available

Indicator: Proportion of Completed New Development in Areas at Risk From Coastal Erosion

For the Period April 1 st 2004 to March 31 st 2005 no (zero) new developments were in areas at risk for coastal erosion. The borough has two unprotected areas that are liable to erosion by the sea Thurstaston and New Ferry Cliffs, at a predicted recession/erosion rate of 0.5m per year (refer to maps below).

For the Period April 1 st 2004 to March 31 st 2005 no (zero) new developments were in areas at risk for coastal erosion.

A review of the North Wales and North West England Shoreline Management Plan, completed in 2011, divides the coastline into fourteen units, based on land use and coastal processes. Ten of the units have a policy of 'hold-the- line', where coastal defences shall be maintained and upgraded as necessary over the next 20 years. The remaining four units, which include the coast from Gayton to Thurstaston Cliffs, between West Kirby and Hoylake and at Eastham, have a policy of 'No Active Intervention', which will involve no investment in coastal defences or operations.”

Indicator: The Number of Planning Approvals Contrary to Environment Agency Advice

Between 2004-2005 and 2010-2011, only three planning applications were approved contrary to Environment agency advice. Of the three planning permissions granted by the Council which were subject to objections from the Environment Agency, two were dealt with by the application of planning conditions and one by the submission of a revised flood risk assessment.

Number of Planning Permissions Granted Contrary to Environment Agency Advice Objections based on flooding Objections based on water issues quality issues 2004/05 0 0 2005/06 0 0 2006/07 0 0 2007/08 0 0 2008/09 3 0 2009/10 0 0 2010/11 0 0 TOTAL 3 0

Indicator: Amount of Land Potentially Liable to Flooding (Formerly Number of Households in Flood Risk Areas)

The amount of land potentially liable to flooding in 2011-2012 as identified by the Environment Agency is estimated to be 1,164 hectares, constituting 7.4% of the total Borough land area. The map below illustrates the areas at risk from flooding.

Source: Environment Agency, 2012