Planning and Land Use

The Council Declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 setting a net zero target of 2030. This is 20 years ahead of National Government targets which means that our local plan needs to set objectives for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience for the local area for new development. The Climate Emergency Local Plan Review (CELPR) was catalysed by this declaration. Policy CC1 of   Climate Emergency Local Plan Review Part One: Strategic Policies & Land Allocation Development Plan Document (DPD)   sets a strategic objective and target of Net Zero by 2030 at a Districtwide level. View page 29 for Policy CC1: Responding to Climate Change and Creating Environmental Sustainability.

We   won the 2024 LGC Net Zero Award (12 June 2024)   for our net zero new homes policy further raising in the national profile the need for national change for new housing. 'The Council was lauded as a forward-thinking project by the LGC judges, recognising their unparalleled tenacity and determination in pushing boundaries and leading the change on a nation scale. The Council commitment to addressing climate adaption and mitigation through revised planning policies has set a shining example for other local authorities to emulate. The judges said this impactful initiative showcase how planning authorities like Lancaster City Council can create lasting sustainable change for local communities, especially for the most vulnerable'.

Here in Lancaster District, domestic emissions are almost 40% of the total greenhouse gas emissions Lancaster City Council can support reductions in. If we are going to have a more sustainable urban future not only do we need to start retrofitting our buildings but also we need to make sure that future new homes are focused on net zero. 

National Government sets out that “the planning system should […] shape places in ways that contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.” National Government’s is also looking to reduce emissions in homes with their new Part L of the building regulations and proposed Future Homes Standard. But their focus is on delivering “zero carbon ready homes” which will only be zero carbon when, and if, the grid decarbonises in 2035. But these homes still require a lot of energy to live comfortably in and will not meet a 2030 net zero target.   

As part of the Climate Emergency Local Plan Review, we have proposed a new policy which will reduce emissions by reducing energy use in a home. This is by using a ‘fabric first’ approach to building based on PassivHaus principles which makes homes not only better for the climate by reducing energy use but less expensive to heat too. Proposed new policy DM30a sets out that new build homes must be net zero for the regulated energy use of the home by 2028.  Policy DM30a can be found in   Climate Emergency Local Pan Review Part Two: Development Management DPD  .

The Council is committed to ensuring that the whole process of development it as made as environmentally friendly as possible. Policies in the proposed Development Management DPD, DM30a and DM30c, require developers to carry out a whole life cycle carbon assessment for new developments. This means the Whole Life-Cycle Carbon (WLC) emissions (the carbon emissions resulting from the materials, construction and the use of a building over its entire life, including its demolition and disposal) are considered. The Requirement of a WLC assessment provides a true picture of a building’s carbon impact on the environment.

You might not guess it from the rainy weather we have in Lancaster District, but we need to start preparing for less water availability as a result of the climate emergency. We are already working with United Utilities on how we will prepare for changes in water availability over the coming decades. As part of the Climate Emergency Local Plan review we have proposed a policy with higher water efficiency standards for new development than is required from the Building Regulations. We have set the water efficiency at 110 litres per person per day compared to the national standard of 125 litres per person per day. You can find the text to Policy DM30b in the Development Management DPD.

Part of reaching net zero will mean a shift away from the private car towards more sustainable modes of travel. To help support this are proposed Policy DM60 and DM62. This is supported by Appendix E which removes minimum car parking requirements throughout the district and sets out maximum levels of car parking provision for different development types. It then sets minimum levels of provision for other vehicles / bicycles. In order to support the transition this includes setting new minimum levels of parking for non-standard cycles and mobility scooters. The policies also reflects the standards set out in  LTN1/20 .

To help support the shift away from personal car use where possible, the council have amended the supporting text of one of our travel policies (T4) such that all public transport services should be sited within a five minute walk or cycle from all new developments.

Did you know that the Council has policies for avoiding new developments on the functional flood plain? Lancaster District is an area that is particularly susceptible to flood risk. The district contains a stretch of coastline along Morecambe Bay which lies off the Irish Sea as well as a number of main rivers. In particular the River Lune, which is liable to flood in extreme weather events. The  extreme floods of Storm Desmond in 2015 and more recently the flooding in Galgate and Halton in November 2017, highlighted the risk  that remains within the district from flooding. Check out Policy DM33 of the adopted Local Plan and in the Climate Emergency Local Plan Review of the Development Management DPD which outline the functional flood plain will be protected from new development. You can find policy DM33: Development and Flood Risk on page 71 of the  adopted local plan .

Lancaster City Council is one of a handful of councils which has set or are setting net zero targets for new development. The Climate Emergency Local Plan Review proposes policy DM30a which sets net zero requirements for all new residential development by 2028 regardless of size. This is achieved through a mixture of fabric first (well insulated and draft free) and renewable energy generation. For the full text of  policy DM30a: Sustainable Design and Construction see page 71 of Part 2 CELPR 

The council is committed to  helping facilitate the Net Zero transition  and has set a 2030 target date. The adopted local plan and Climate Emergency Local Plan review sets out the council's approach to supporting and helping facilitate the green transition. Part of making this happen is including a Wind Energy Opportunity Area, Figure 13.1 of the Part 2 DPD (page 154).  See DM53: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Generation starting on page 145.  The Council is also nearing completion of its Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) which looks at findings from the Council's Heat Network Study and the Zoning Pilot completed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The LAEP will deliver a while energy systems roadmap to decarbonisation, providing an evidence based investment plan.

Across Lancaster District we are generating more and more renewable energy. Since 2005, planning has approved over 30MW of wind energy and almost 70MW of solar. Over 1,500MWh of battery storage has also been approved. Since 2019, when LCC declared a climate emergency, the Council has approved three solar farms and four battery storage installations approved (two more pending consideration). There have not been applications for substantial wind energy generation though there have been some domestic turbines.

  planningpolicy@lancaster.gov.uk          

• Email: planningpolicy@lancaster.gov.uk 
• Phone: 01524 582383