Planners and climate specialists at Mid Devon District Council are requesting feedback on a recently published policy statement that will help new developments ‘meet green credentials’ as the council looks to move towards a net zero future.
The statement is following the adoption of the Devon Climate Change Declaration and the Mid Devon Climate Strategy 2020-2024 and will support relevant policies through interim measures whilst the Plan Mid Devon is prepared.
The Planning Policy Statement includes:
- A checklist for planning applications, requesting evidence on matters such as low-carbon design, energy efficiency, temperature changes, flood risk, pollution and biodiversity.
- A toolkit demonstrating good practice for creating net zero carbon homes.
- A spreadsheet for calculating the costs and benefits of different ‘low carbon’ standards for new homes, based on four different types of housing.
Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Colin Slade, said:
“Every bit of work we do is part off or approach to building more sustainable and prosperous communities. We gave a clear goal to become carbon net zero by 2030 and this ambition now forms an integral part of how we plan our future developments.”
The new statement will apply to all planning application for development of land and buildings in the Mid Devon area, excluding those that are subject to ‘permitted development rights’ where there is no need to apply for planning permission, or those in within the Dartmoor National Park.
The public consultation is now underway, with the council keep to hear the views of residents about the Planning Policy Statement and all comments being carefully considered to help with the finalisation of the statement before it is adopted by the council. The consultation period will end on the 16th December.
