Planning
The Spatial Development Strategy must set a framework that protects nature, improves the environment and enables us to adapt to climate change without adding to it, as well as meeting housing and infrastructure requirements and complementing the Local Growth Plan.
We call on the Mayor to:
- Create a coherent strategic approach to use of space that gives as much importance to protecting nature and climate as to energy, transport, building and the economy.
- Promote Environmental Spatial Planning: a proactive integrated approach to land use that creates a more sustainable and resilient environment, understanding and valuing the ecosystem services that support human and natural life.
- Drive sustainable energy generation and distribution: Identify sites for large-scale solar power generation, on- and off-shore wind power, and other technologies with potential such as tidal.
- Transport: maximise walking, cycling and public transport and minimise the need for private car journeys
- Nature: Safeguard the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Nature Improvement/Biodiversity Action Plans.
- Building: Support local authorities (especially new unitaries) to develop new Local Plans that take account of climate and nature in planning decisions, to minimise environmental impacts on communities and ecosystems:
- clear guidance on how biodiversity and nature can be protected and enhanced
- require new buildings to be whole life "carbon negative” - to produce more energy than they use
- use of building products and materials with least embodied energy, carbon and pollutant impacts
- encourage renewable energy e.g. local development orders
- minimise the need for cars
- good access to essential services
- nature based solutions such as green roofs.