Planning for a Low Carbon Future

The CBA has responded to the CLG consultation on planning in a changing climate to emphasise that it should address the historic environment issues that planners face in relation to climate change.

The CBA has responded to the CLG consultation on planning in a changing climate to emphasise the need for it to address properly the historic environment issues that planners face in relation to climate change. The draft PPS does not reflect the policy principles for heritage assets and climate change in PPS5. There needs to be a clear recognition of the opportunities to utilise heritage assets as part of a mixed approach to carbon management which takes into account whole-life carbon costs.

The Government’s Statement on the Historic Environment, published earlier this year, was unambiguous about the principle that protecting and reusing the historic environment is an inherently sustainable activitiy:

Investment in historic buildings can be an energy efficient option, saving the energy associated with demolition, the creation and delivery of materials, the building process and waste disposal. One quarter of our existing building stock dates from before 1919 and represents a considerable carbon investment in its own right.

The CBA believes that the Low Carbon PPS should recognise the need to make balanced choices, based on well-informed evidence of whole-life carbon costs for historic buildings and infrastructure. Every opportunity should be taken to adapt sensitively and sustainably the heritage assets in which society has already made heavy investments of energy and materials, as well as the models that traditional construction and settlement patterns provide for lower carbon living.

The CLG’s public consultation on the Low Carbon PPS ends on 1 June. For details visit our Consultations page.