1 Contents ONE Introduction 1 BACKGROUND 1 WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION? 2 CLIMATE CHANGE SPD 2 PURPOSE OF GUIDANCE NOTE 1: SUSTAINABLE BUILDING STANDARDS 2 CONTENTS 2 TWO Policy Context 3 NATIONAL CONTEXT 3 LONDON CONTEXT 3 BOROUGH CONTEXT 4 THREE Code for Sustainable Homes 5 BACKGROUND 5 PLANNING POLICY REQUIREMENTS 5 PLANNING GUIDELINES 5 Guideline SB1: Pre- Assessment Report (Code for Sustainable Homes) 6 Guideline SB2: Design Stage Assessment (Code for Sustainable Homes) 7 Guideline SB3: Post Construction Stage Assessment (Code for Sustainable Homes) 8 FOUR ‘BREEAM’ Sustainability Ratings (Non-Residential Developments) 9 BACKGROUND 9 PLANNING POLICY REQUIREMENTS 9 PLANNING GUIDELINES 10 Guideline SB4: Pre- Assessment Report (BREEAM) 10 Guideline SB5: Design Stage Assessment (BREEAM) 10 Guideline SB6: Post Construction Stage Assessment (BREEAM) 11 FIVE Sustainable Design and Construction Statements 12 BACKGROUND 12 PLANNING POLICY REQUIREMENTS 12 PLANNING GUIDELINE 12 Guideline SB7: Sustainable Design and Construction Statements 12 SIX Model Planning Conditions 13 BACKGROUND 13 PLANNING GUIDELINE 13 Guideline SB8: Use of Planning Conditions (CSH/ BREEAM) 13 MODEL PLANNING CONDITIONS FOR THE CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES AND BREEAM 14 SEVEN Development Management Flowchart: Code for Sustainable Homes 15 and BREEAM 2 ONE Introduction Background 1.1 In 2009, Sutton became the first Council in the UK to commit to being a ‘One Planet Living' (OPL) Borough. This seeks to reduce our environmental footprint to acceptable levels based on the recognition that if everyone in the world lived as we do in Sutton, we would need almost three planets’ worth of resources to maintain our current levels of consumption. Sutton’s shared OPL vision will be delivered by a partnership between the Council and a range of stakeholders, including developers, local residents and the business community. 1.2 Sutton’s One Planet Action Plan 2011-12 (LBS, 2011)1 sets out the key principles which underpin the Council’s ambition to become London’s most sustainable suburb and includes some of the most challenging environmental targets set anywhere in the UK. These include becoming a ‘zero carbon enabled’ Borough by 2025, achieving zero carbon standards for all new development in Hackbridge and further Borough-wide targets set for reducing carbon emissions from buildings, sustainable waste management, local and sustainable construction materials, natural habitats and wildlife, water efficiency, sustainable transport, health and climate change adaptation. Hackbridge, which contains the world-renowned BedZED2 development, has been identified as Sutton’s flagship OPL community and presents a unique opportunity to create an example of what a sustainable suburb could look like. The Council is working with developers and the local community through the Neighbourhood Planning process to secure zero carbon standards in all new developments. What is Sustainable Design and Construction? 1.3 In short, sustainable design seeks to minimise energy, carbon emissions and resources used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings, while maximising the positive benefits of development for quality of life and the local environment. Other key considerations are to ensure that the design and layout of new developments minimise vulnerability of people and property to climate change impacts, to protect and enhance biodiversity and habitats, maintain green space networks and provide healthy buildings and spaces that comfortable for users. 1.4 Promoting the highest standards of sustainable design and construction in all new development is central to the Council’s OPL Vision. According to DECC3, almost half (49.1%) of total carbon emissions within the Borough, or 418.3 k tonnes per annum (ktpa), come from the built environment. Sutton’s Core Planning Strategy4 (December 2009) seeks to “build on Sutton’s reputation as greener, cleaner Borough and work towards the Council’s long-term goal of OPL by addressing the causes and potential impacts of climate change, promoting built energy efficiency and renewables, cutting pollution, reducing waste, managing flood risk and protecting habitats and species diversity” by: • achieving the highest standards of sustainable design and construction in all new development by addressing climate change, minimising flood risks, promoting water and resource efficiency, minimising pollution, protecting and enhancing local habitats and biodiversity, creating inclusive environments and reducing reliance on private vehicles (Strategic Objective SO6); • making the fullest contribution to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change within the Borough and minimise carbon dioxide emissions from new development by promoting built energy efficiency, the efficient supply of energy, and renewable sources of energy (Strategic Objective SO5); and • ensuring that new development is not exposed to unacceptable risks of flooding and avoids, manages and reduces the potential risks of flooding elsewhere, taking into account climate change (Strategic Objective SO7). 1.5 The Council’s adopted planning policies relating to key aspects of sustainable design are now established as part of Sutton’s Local Development Framework (LDF) as follows: • Core Planning Strategy (December 2009): Core Policies BP6 on ‘One Planet Living’ and BP7 on ‘Flood Risk and Climate Change Adaptation’; • Site Development Policies DPD (March 2012): Policies DM5 ‘Sustainable Design and Construction’, DM6 ‘Climate Change Mitigation’, DM7 ‘Flood Risk’, DM8 ‘Climate Change Adaptation’, DM9 ‘Water Supply, Water Quality and Sewerage Infrastructure’, DM10 ‘Air Quality’, DM11 ‘Contaminated Land’, DM12 ‘Noise and Vibration, DM13 ‘Light Pollution’ and DM17 ‘Biodiversity, Habitats and Species’; and • Interim Planning Guidance (IPG) on Sustainable Design and Construction (May 2008) 5: Superseded by the Climate Change SPD. 1 Sutton’s One Planet Action Plan 2011-12 is available at http://www.sutton.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=10954&p=0 (currently under review) 2 further information on BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development) is available at http://www.bioregional.co.uk/flagship-projects/one-planet-communities/bedzed-uk/ 3 Department for Energy and Climate Change 4 the Core Planning Strategy DPD (Development Plan Document) is available at http://www.sutton.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=14189&p=0 5 the ‘Sustainable Design and Construction’ IPG is available at https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4178 1 Climate Change SPD 1.6 The Climate Change SPD has been prepared as a set of 6 Guidance Notes setting out planning guidelines for developers on the following sustainability issues: • Guidance Note 1 - Sustainable Building Standards: Meeting the Council’s minimum standards set out in relation to the Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM6; • Guidance Note 2 - Carbon and Energy: Minimising CO2 emissions in line with phased targets and timescales set out in Policy DM6 through (i) energy efficiency measures (ii) efficient energy supply; and (iii) renewable energy. • Guidance Note 3 - Flood Risk and Water Resources: Minimising all sources of flood risk to and from the development in line with Policy DM7 and achieving higher standards of water efficiency in line with Policy DM10. (Proposed SUDS7 standards are put forward as part of the Council's new statutory responsibilities as a ‘SUDS Approval Body’); • Guidance Note 4 - Climate Change Adaptation: Ensuring that proposed developments are fully adapted to climate change impacts through promoting green space; • Guidance Note 5 - Construction Materials and Waste: Promoting the use of local and sustainable construction materials, minimising construction waste and promoting recycling; • Guidance Note 6 - Environmental Protection: Minimising the adverse impacts of water, air, soil, noise and light pollution during both construction and operation. 1.7 This document constitutes Guidance Note 1 on Sustainable Building Standards and supersedes the relevant developer guidelines set out in the Sustainable Design and Construction IPG adopted in May 2008. Purpose of Guidance Note 1: Sustainable Building Standards 1.8 This document provides step-by-step guidelines for developers on meeting the Council’s minimum requirements in relation to the Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM and the submission of sustainable design and construction statements in line with Policy DM5 of the Site Development Policies DPD on ‘Sustainable Design and Construction’. This is designed to show how the development management process should operate, from the earliest pre-application discussions with the Council through to the determination of planning applications and negotiation of planning agreements. A flow-chart is included to show what information should be submitted by developers at each stage, including pre-assessment reports, design stage assessments and construction phase assessments submitted under the Code for Sustainable Homes or BREEAM. Model planning conditions are also set out to ensure compliance with the Policy. 1.9 The Council recognises the critical importance of ‘front-loading’ the planning process by working with developers from the earliest stages of project planning (or building procurement) to ensure that sustainability considerations are integral to the design and layout of new developments. This approach will provide the greatest opportunities for a well-designed development and ensure that the Council’s minimum sustainability standards are met or exceeded