Plan:MK Topic Paper - Issues Consultation Climate Change and Sustainability September 2014 www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/PlanMK Plan:MK Topic Papers - Issues Consultation Plan:MK Topic Papers - Issues What is the purpose of the Topic Papers? Consultation This is one of a series of Topic Papers Introduction published by the Council at this time. In total there are twelve Topic Papers Plan:MK, a new Local Plan for Milton covering: Keynes, will set out a development strategy for Milton Keynes up to 2031 with a range Growth in Housing of detailed policies to guide development Employment and Economic over this period. Development It will replace the Core Strategy, adopted Town Centres and Retail in 2013 and the existing Local Plan (2005) Transport and Travel which together currently form the part of Rural Issues development plan for the Borough. Provision of Physical and Social Infrastructure Once complete, Plan:MK and any Quality of Place Neighbourhood Plans, will be the starting Culture, Recreation and Quality point for planning advice, (other than for of Life Minerals and Waste) and decisions made by Open Space and the Natural the Council. It will set out how much Environment 1 development is expected over the plan Climate Change and Sustainability period and the location of development Duty to Cooperate sites across the Borough. It will also include The Way Forward: Preparing a detailed policies to ensure that all Vision and Development Strategy development is of high quality and for Plan:MK Milton respectful to the character of Milton Keynes, and that unplanned development Each of the Topic Papers is available only occurs where it is appropriate. on the Council website at Keynes http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planmk Plan:MK has to be prepared within the context of national planning policy and Council within the legislative framework set out by The aim of the papers is to engage the Government. This Topic Paper is part everyone with a stake in the future growth of the first stage in the process where we | and development of Milton Keynes in the are seeking initial view of the public and Plan:MK preparation of Plan:MK. They cover a range other interested parties on what should be of topics, sometimes interlinked, which the in Plan:MK. Council have identified as being key to the development of the Plan. - Climate Each paper summarises the background to the topic, setting out data and policy context, before highlighting key issues and Change posing questions for the reader – the responses to which will help the Council in the development of Plan:MK. and Sustainability Plan:MK Topic Papers - Issues Consultation The final topic paper, “The Way Forward” How to respond draws together issues raised in the preceding papers and considers what they mean for the Vision and Development The Council would appreciate any Strategy. feedback you have on the Topic Papers. In particular, if you can focus When we produce the final version of on the questions posed it will help with Plan:MK, the Vision and Development the development of the plan. Strategy will be at the start of the Plan, Feedback can be submitted: setting the scene for the policies that will follow. Online via our consultation portal: http://miltonkeynes-consult. These Topic Papers are being published for objective.co.uk consultation in accordance with Regulation Via email: 18 ‘Preparation of a local plan’ of the Town [email protected] and Country Planning (Local Planning) In writing: Development Plans, (England) Regulations 2012. Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ All comments should be received by 2 5pm on Wednesday 3rd December 2014. How will the feedback be used? The next stage of the process will be to develop a Preferred Options document, which will set out the Council’s initial draft of Plan:MK. Sustainability Feedback from this Issues consultation will help to shape the options considered as and part of the development of the Preferred Options. These options will evolve through further focused consultation with key Change stakeholders. The Council expects to publish the Climate Preferred Options document for - consultation in 2015. The overall aim is to get a final plan Plan:MK prepared by early 2016, at which time it | will be submitted to the Government and be subject to independent examination. Council Keynes Milton Introduction Introduction temperature has increased since the late 19th century, and that each of the past 1 Sustainability is increasingly important three decades has been successively as the accumulation of carbon dioxide in warmer at the Earth’s surface than any of the atmosphere is already disrupting the the previous decades on record. global climate. National policy is clear that planning plays a key role in helping to secure radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to the impacts of climate change, and supporting the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy. Climate change and sustainability is something that needs to be considered as an integral part of planning as our present decisions will impact on the future and the way people live, work and travel. This Topic Paper covers sustainable 3 A Local Climate Impact Profile construction, renewable energy, and flood report(2), produced in 2010, shows that the and water management issues. However, future warmest day temperatures in Milton since climate change is a cross-cutting issue Keynes are very unlikely to decrease and 3 it is also considered in our other topic that in the ‘worst case scenario’ they may papers related to infrastructure, transport increase by 12.8°C in the 2080s. networks, open space and natural environment issues. 4 Accompanying rising temperatures will be many other changes to the Earth system, Milton affecting food and water supplies, human health, biodiversity and the economy and causing more extreme weather events, like Keynes flooding and heatwaves. 5 Adapting to, and mitigating against the Council effects of climate change is a government priority and an issue that can be addressed through planning policy and the | development management system. Plan:MK “Development plan documents must (taken as a whole) include policies designed to - 2 While there is a lot of debate about secure that the development and use of Climate the amount and rate of climate change, it land in the local planning authority's area is nevertheless a major national and contribute to the mitigation of, and international issue, which needs to be adaptation to, climate change"(3). Change considered at every scale and within all aspects of planning. A recent report(1) confirmed that global mean surface and Sustainability 1 The AR5 Report is available at: www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/ 2 The Local Climate Impact Report is available at: http://www.usea.org.uk/images/news_images/Milton%20Keynes%20LCLIP.pdf 3 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/5/contents Introduction 6 Spatial planning should therefore provide a clear local planning framework to ensure we deliver sustainable new development, including infrastructure that minimises vulnerability and provides resilience to the impacts of climate change(4). 7 Plan:MK through its strategy and policies should ensure that new development can contribute to minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to the impacts of climate change. This will include thorough policies relating to sustainable construction so that new development minimises the use of energy and other resources throughout the building’s life cycle; policies that consider the generation of energy from renewable and low carbon sources; and policies that ensure that we are resilient to the rise of future flooding 4 and the impacts of climate change. Sustainability and Change Climate - Plan:MK | Council Keynes 4 The National Adaptation Programme, Making the country resilient to a changing climate (DEFRA, 2013): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/209866/pb13942-nap-20130701.pdf Milton Sustainable Construction & Renewable Energy - Introduction Sustainable Construction & 9 We live in an age of rapid technology innovation, which will help us to deal with Renewable Energy - the impacts of climate change and Milton Introduction Keynes is well-placed and adept to embrace it. 8 Milton Keynes is a New Town with a history of innovation in sustainable construction and environmental design. Milton Keynes has always been open to try and test new approaches in the field of sustainability. Over the decades this has included: 1971 – the introduction of the UK’s first solar powered house in Bradville; 1981 –‘Home World’ exhibition, showcasing innovation in energy efficient homes; the Pennyland and Great Linford projects 1981/1982 – the Pennyland projects focused on passive solar gains 5 and improved thermal insulation of the houses. Also, the Great Linford project focused on detailed and sophisticated monitoring of the energy consumption(5) Milton 1986 – Shenley Lodge energy management demonstration project for Energy World – an international 10 Milton Keynes benefits from its Keynes showcase of energy efficient housing; central geographical location; in the 2005 – adoption of the Local Plan with midpoint between London, Birmingham, policy that introduced requirements Oxford and Cambridge. The Milton Keynes’ Council for significantly higher energy scientific and technological milieu (e.g. standards in new buildings Cranfield University’s Energy Technology 2008 – the Milton Keynes Carbon Offset Centre; The OU’s Energy and Environment | Fund, the first local carbon reduction Research Unit; also motor sports and high Plan:MK fund of its kind; performance engineering etc) should create 2011 – Milton Keynes was chosen as a positive stimulus for sustainable one of three initial Plugged in Places construction and renewable energy - Climate ((PiP) a government project to industries locally and beyond.