Shocking Demand for Climate Change Laws in Planning Process Has Ownership Groups Rattled!

The Need for Climate Change Considerations in Planning Decisions

More than 100 companies in the UK property sector, including Landsec, Grosvenor Property, and Rockwool, have called on Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to make planning decisions that take climate change into account. They argue that England’s existing planning system undermines the sector’s ability to deliver sustainable homes at scale and speed. The system has been criticized for slow and inconsistent decision-making that hampers construction and development.

The executives highlight the upcoming “leveling and regeneration bill” as an opportunity to address the lack of attention to climate change in planning decisions. The bill, currently being processed through parliament, supports the government’s economic rebalancing goals but does not include any provisions linking it to the UK’s environmental ambitions. The companies are urging for the bill to be amended to include clear legal requirements for planning decisions to align explicitly with the UK’s carbon budget and adaptation goals to prepare for the effects of global warming.

In addition to addressing climate change, the companies are also calling for the planning system to incorporate nature restoration goals set forth in the Environment Act. They argue that without these changes, planning policy could risk undermining vital investments.

Louise Hutchins, a policy officer at the UK’s Green Building Council, which organized the letter, criticizes England’s planning system for failing to integrate government commitments on climate. He highlights specific restrictions on technologies like solar panels and heat pumps that could help reduce carbon emissions but face limitations due to visual impairments or noise concerns.

Unpopular Development and the Importance of Retrofitting

The signatories of the letter, including Allies & Morrison, JLL, and Aecom, also highlight the issue of unsustainable and unpopular development being built in unsuitable locations, including floodplains without sufficient mitigation measures.

Furthermore, the construction company Mace, responsible for iconic structures like the Shard and the London Eye, emphasizes the importance of retrofitting existing buildings instead of unnecessarily tearing them down. Mace’s CEO, Gareth Lewis, suggests that many buildings can be transformed and refurbished, saving significant embodied carbon in the process. This approach aligns with the need to prioritize energy efficiency and reduce demolition-driven carbon emissions.

However, the implementation of stricter energy efficiency rules for commercial properties has created challenges for real estate investors. The costly upgrades required to meet these standards have raised concerns about some shops and offices becoming “stuck assets.”

An Engaging Perspective: Transforming the Planning System for a Sustainable Future

The calls from the UK property sector highlight the urgent need to transform the planning system to address climate change and achieve sustainability goals effectively. While England’s planning system has faced criticism for its slow and inconsistent decision-making, it presents an opportunity to integrate climate change considerations and align with the UK’s environmental ambitions.

The Role of Clear Legal Requirements

Amending the “leveling and regeneration bill” to include clear legal requirements for planning decisions would be a crucial step toward ensuring sustainability and combating climate change. Explicitly aligning planning decisions with the UK’s carbon budget and adaptation goals can drive a significant reduction in carbon emissions and prepare the country for the impacts of global warming. By incorporating nature restoration goals from the Environment Act, the planning system would also contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the UK’s natural environment.

Unlocking Sustainable Development

Integrating climate change considerations into planning decisions would unlock opportunities for sustainable development in the property sector. By prioritizing high-quality, sustainable homes, the sector can contribute to both environmental and social goals. Sustainable homes not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve the quality of life for residents, promoting health and well-being.

Furthermore, incorporating sustainability principles into planning decisions would pave the way for innovative and efficient building technologies. By removing restrictions on technologies like solar panels and heat pumps, the planning system can encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The Benefits of Retrofitting

The emphasis on retrofitting existing buildings aligns with the principles of sustainability and carbon reduction. Retrofitting offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to demolition and new construction. By repurposing and refurbishing buildings, embodied carbon is saved, and valuable resources are conserved. Retrofitting can breathe new life into aging structures, transforming them into modern, energy-efficient assets.

Retrofitting also presents an opportunity to boost the economy and create jobs. The construction industry, along with associated sectors, can benefit from the demand for retrofitting expertise. This approach can contribute to a green recovery, driving sustainable economic growth and providing employment opportunities.

The Challenges and Opportunities for Real Estate Investors

The stricter energy efficiency rules for commercial properties pose challenges for real estate investors. However, viewing these requirements as a catalyst for positive change can unlock opportunities for long-term sustainable investments. Adapting existing buildings to meet energy efficiency standards not only aligns with environmental goals but also enhances the value and attractiveness of the properties.

Investors who embrace sustainability can differentiate themselves in the market, attracting tenants who prioritize environmentally responsible practices. Implementing energy-efficient measures and adopting renewable energy sources can lead to lower operational costs, improved tenant satisfaction, and enhanced asset resilience.

Conclusion

The calls from the UK property sector to integrate climate change considerations into planning decisions reflect the need for urgent action. By amending legislation, setting clear legal requirements, and incorporating sustainability principles, the planning system can contribute significantly to addressing climate change, delivering high-quality homes, and fostering a more sustainable future. Embracing retrofitting and energy efficiency measures presents opportunities for economic growth and job creation while reducing carbon emissions and improving building performance. It is time for the planning system to evolve and become a catalyst for transformative change.

More than 100 companies in the UK property sector, including Landsec, Grosvenor Property, and Rockwool, have urged Rishi Sunak to make planning decisions that factor climate change into law.

The group has written to the prime minister and three secretaries of state, arguing that England’s existing planning system undermines the property sector’s ability to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes at speed and scale.

The planning system is often criticized by ownership groups for slow and inconsistent decision-making, which they say has hampered much-needed construction and development.

Executives said the “leveling and regeneration bill,” currently in the process of passing parliament, provides an opportunity to address the lack of attention to climate change in planning decisions.

In its current form, the bill includes some planning reform proposals but does not link the scheme to the UK’s environmental ambitions.

The companies said the bill should be amended to include a new, clear legal requirement for planning decisions to explicitly align with the UK’s carbon budget and adaptation goals.

They are also calling for the system to incorporate nature restoration goals that have been set forth in the Environment Act.

“Without a new climate clause and clear legal alignment, planning policy could risk going backwards, undermining vital investments,” reads the letter, sent on Thursday afternoon.

Louise Hutchins, policy officer at the UK’s Green Building Council, an industry group that focuses on sustainable building, who organized the letter, said England has a “planning system that fails to integrate government commitments on climate”.

He cited planning restrictions on technologies that could help reduce carbon emissions, such as banning properties from using solar panels due to visual impairments or heat pumps for noise.

“This [letter] is a wake-up call for the government and for politicians to recognize the breadth and depth of support for greening the planning system from across the built environment and industry,” he added.

The signatories, including Allies & Morrison, JLL, and Aecom, said local communities continue to see “unsustainable and unpopular development built in unsuitable locations, with thousands of homes built on floodplains without sufficient mitigation”.

More than 100 companies in the UK property sector, including Landsec, Grosvenor Property and Rockwool, have urged Rishi Sunak to make planning decisions that factor climate change into law.

The group has written to the prime minister and three secretaries of state, arguing that England’s existing planning system undermines the property sector’s ability to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes at speed and scale.

The planning system is often criticized by ownership groups for slow and inconsistent decision-making, which they say has hampered much-needed construction and development.

Executives said the “leveling and regeneration bill,” currently in the process of passing parliament, provides an opportunity to address the lack of attention to climate change in planning decisions.

In its current form the bill, which supports the economic rebalancing goals set by the government last year, includes some planning reform proposals, but does not link the scheme to the UK’s environmental ambitions.

The companies said the bill should be amended to include a new, clear legal requirement for planning decisions to explicitly align with the UK’s carbon budget – the cumulative amount of carbon Britain can emit before risking it. higher temperature increases – and adaptation goals to prepare the country for the effects of global warming.

They are also calling for the system to incorporate nature restoration goals that have been set forth in the Environment Act.

“Without a new climate clause and clear legal alignment, planning policy could . . . risk going backwards, undermining vital investments,” reads the letter, sent on Thursday afternoon.

Louise Hutchins, policy officer at the UK’s Green Building Council, an industry group that focuses on sustainable building, who organized the letter, said England has a “planning system that fails to integrate government commitments on climate”.

He cited planning restrictions on technologies that could help reduce carbon emissions, such as banning properties from using solar panels due to visual impairments or heat pumps for noise.

“This [letter] it is a wake-up call for government and for politicians to recognize the breadth and depth of support for greening the planning system from across the built environment and industry,” he added.

The signatories, including Allies & Morrison, JLL and Aecom, said local communities continue to see “unsustainable and unpopular development built in unsuitable locations, with thousands of homes built on floodplains without sufficient mitigation”.

There have been other calls to prioritize environmental considerations in planning. Mace, the construction company responsible for the Shard and the London Eye, said in a separate report on Thursday that ministers should use planning rules to discourage developers from unnecessarily tearing down buildings.

“Many buildings may not require demolition and can be transformed and refurbished through retrofitting into fantastic new assets, saving tons of embodied carbon in the process,” said Gareth Lewis, chief executive of Mace Construction.

But tougher rules on energy efficiency in commercial properties, which took effect in April, have added to the woes for real estate investors.

The often costly upgrades required to bring buildings up to standard have added to fears that some shops and offices could become ‘stuck assets’.