guidance note 12
Sustainable Development |
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INTRODUCTION
This note provides guidance on
sustainable development, an approach which is applicable to all new
developments.
Sustainable
development means meeting our societys needs in a way that protects the
natural environment while developing quality of life for everybody, especially
those most in need. This means
maintaining the services, products and jobs that we all need in our lives, but
ensuring that they are provided in a way that minimises environmental harm and
that maximises social wellbeing in a socially inclusive way.
Developers have a major role to play, ensuring that new developments are
built in a sustainable manner which promotes a high quality design, are
resource efficient, minimise environmental impacts and are easily accessed with
adequate provision of physical and social infrastructure. The Planning System
can play a role in achieving a more sustainable future and the following
guidance will be applied when assessing development proposals.
Sustainable Development Goals
·
Preserve
and regenerate natural habitats
·
Minimise
the adverse impact of development on habitat drainage patterns
·
Minimise
material use and waste generation
·
Minimise
carbon dioxide emissions from transport and energy
·
Minimise
use of non-native and genetically-modified species
·
Minimise
use of water
·
Public
health
·
Community
safety
·
Recreational
and cultural opportunities
·
Community
involvement in decision-making
·
Social
inclusion
·
Support
local businesses
GUIDANCE
1) Promoting
regeneration and the full and appropriate use of land, buildings and
infrastructure
In general developers should seek to focus development proposals on
brownfield sites within the existing built up areas. By using
urban brownfield rather than greenfield or greenbelt sites, developments can
make best use of existing infrastructure as well as supporting other policy
goals including protecting the green
belt setting of towns and villages, avoiding urban sprawl, and minimising the
need to travel. Where compatible with Local Plan policies and objectives,
developers should:
create mixed use developments, which will help maximise
accessibility to local services and facilities;
provide higher density developments in and around town centres and
close to public transport nodes or major routes;
take account of the sequential approach to development at all times,
using wherever possible previously developed land and existing buildings.
This will require a design led approach to ensure every development
proposal whatever its scale responds positively to the particular
characteristics of a site and its surroundings and reinforces local
distinctiveness.
In rural
areas infill development within village envelopes or conversion of existing
buildings will be preferred to any proposal to expand village envelopes or
develop isolated sites, helping to reduce travel, maximise the use of existing
land and building resources whilst supporting village facilities.
2) Supporting
better access by foot, cycle and public transport as well as by car
Sustainable development should not only consist of environment friendly
and energy efficient buildings it should ensure high accessibility to all by
all modes of transport. Maximising accessibility to local services and
facilities by energy efficient means and providing integration between
different transport modes, will help to reduce the number and length of
motorised journeys.
In particular good developments should provide ease of movement, maximising
access to public transport providing pedestrian and cycle links which are safe,
direct, subject to natural surveillance and provided additional links to wider
area including shops, schools, surgeries etc. Provisions should always be made
for services, but good design not road layout and parking standards should
dictate site layout.
Well located
developments which encourage walking and cycling and minimise exhaust emissions
and the generation of environmentally destructive substance can also make a long
term contribution to improving community health.
3) Catering
for all members of the community
Developers should ensure that buildings and external environment must,
wherever feasible be accessible to all members of the community, including
parents with young children, elderly people, and people with disabilities.
Proposals for public use will only be supported if there is barrier free all
abilities access.
4) Protecting and enhancing areas for recreation
and natural heritage
For a development to be sustainable it must at least maintain and if
possible enhance biodiversity. Amenity space, landscaping or open space
provided on site should be designed as an integral part of development taking
into account privacy, safety and amenity using adopted Council standards. These
should be located in such a way as to maintain or enhance the local environment
by conserving the diversity of species and habitats and incorporating existing
natural vegetation and features wherever possible. This is particularly
important on sites adjoining the green network, Important Wildlife Corridors or
water courses. Left over space parcels of space which serve no purpose should
be avoided as they are likely to become a source of nuisance.
The protection of trees is especially important, with shelter planting
located on the edge of sites helping reduce energy consumption and dispersed
tree planting throughout a site deflecting air flow. Trees covered by tree
preservation orders and in conservation areas have already been identified for
their importance to maintaining the character of an area. Where trees are to be
retained their relationship with the development should be carefully considered
to ensure their future well being. In particular there should be no intrusion
onto the canopy or root spread and adequate space should be allowed for future
growth. Where trees are to be lost in a development, developers should aim to
replace them using appropriate species (preferably native). New planting should
have adequate space to mature and arrangements should be made for ongoing
maintenance.
In addition in order to maintain the townscape and landscape of the area
development will not be permitted where it would detract from or result in the
loss of
important views and skylines. (Elevated positions on ridges and
skylines should generally be avoided due to the increased visual intrusion
which could result.)
natural landform
hedgerows
open areas important to the townscape or the setting of buildings
the landscape framework
water courses and wetland features
5) Conserving important historic and cultural
assets
Any important landscape, historical, archaeological features or built
heritage should be retained and where
possible enhanced. This will not only protect the heritage and character of the
area for future generations but in addition may save energy that is already
embodied in their materials and construction.
6) Encouraging energy efficiency through the
layout and design of developments
Improvements in the way developments are planned offer opportunities to
reduce energy consumption and create more sustainable developments The capacity
of the landscape to absorb development must be given proper attention,
alongside other considerations such as the need and demand for housing, the
availability of land, and the provision of infrastructure. Developers should:
ensure that the layout, siting and landscaping of new buildings maximises energy efficiency, utilises natural
shelter and provides opportunities for passive solar gain (to reduce heating
costs and maximise natural light), whilst protecting against cold, wind and
driving rain. Exposure to natural light and heat from the sun can be achieved by
designing dwellings that face southwards with streets arranged in an east-west
pattern and with a generous separation between dwellings to provide for full
solar access,
design buildings to include or facilitate the later provision of
on-site generation of energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar or
biomass. These are generally more
suitable if they are directed at the local level to power individual buildings
(i.e. linked to on site use). Renewable energy schemes will be encouraged but
as with other kinds of development account will be taken of related environmental
impacts,
ensure buildings have flexible physical structures so that they can
be adapted to changing uses over time extending their useful life,
save energy by maximising insulation and by using waste heat to heat
buildings via a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.
use of soft construction
and maintenance techniques harnessing natural processes.
generally provide a high quality of design - building to a higher
environmental specification generally involves lower maintenance costs
ensure that
the layout of proposed lighting schemes offer good design which considers the
levels of light pollution and energy conservation.
7) Minimise the Environmental Impacts of Material
Use and Waste Generation
There is an overall need for more prudent use of natural resources. At
present only 1% of construction
materials are reused in
aim to minimise waste during construction and design through the use
of renewable and recycled materials locally sourced wherever possible
balance waste creation and material use e.g. cut and fill on site to minimise the import and export of material and
send excess waste for re-use or recycling.
avoid the use of materials from unsustainable sources (e.g. tropical
hardwoods), those which involve long distance transport or require high energy
inputs during manufacture,
use organic, biodegradable alternatives
to cement, metal and plastic such as timber and earth materials which will have less environmental
impact at the end of their lives and will provide healthier, non-toxic
surroundings for the
users of buildings.
use existing infrastructure where
possible and take into account the relation to direction of slope (e.g. built form will blend with the landscape if
built parallel to the contours). Road
and path alignments should also be related
to landform to reduce energy consumption and arrange suitable modes of
transport.
8) Minimise water use and alteration to drainage
patterns
It is
important that consideration is given to the use of water during the
development process and that the drainage systems set in place will be
sustainable throughout the lifetime of the development. Developers should:
use sustainable urban drainage systems, for example,
through the creation of ponds and wetland to absorb run-off and enhance on-site
biodiversity. Any consequential impact
of the proposed development on the water table of adjoining areas must also be
taken into account,
carry out measures to ensure that subsoil structure is not destroyed
by compaction, thereby protecting natural surface water drainage, oxygen
content and the potential of the ground to support plant life.
ensure development has
suitable measures for disposing of surface water drainage as close to its
source as possible and provide a building design which is water efficient.
not exacerbate the risk of flooding elsewhere or adversely
affect the function of floodplains, and should not reduce water storage areas
whether natural or manmade.
not threaten the sustainability or purity of sources of
water supply
9) Local sourcing of materials
and labour
Developers
should seek to source materials and labour locally where possible to reduce
transport distance and to support the local economy. There may also be opportunities to work with
training providers to create opportunities for unemployed local people, thus
enhancing the local skill base.
10) Considering the lifecycle of development from
the outset and its long term impact on the surrounding community and environment
It is important that developers consider the lifecycle of the development
taking account of all potential impacts now and in the future. All developments
therefore should:
not have an adverse impact on adjoining land uses or property.
achieve an acceptable standard of environmental quality and
minimises levels of pollution provide pollution abatement technology to reduce
emissions to air and water
not overload physical or infrastructure (e.g. local roads, schools,
health and welfare services or water and sewerage infrastructure).
FURTHER INFORMATION
East
Dunbartonshire Council can provide further information and support to help
encourage the sustainability of development proposals, and developers are
encouraged to contact the Council at as early a stage as possible for advice.
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to
contact :
The Planning Office, Development Quality Section,
The Triangle,
Bishopbriggs G64 2TR
Tel: 0141 578 8000