Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable planning

Through the planning process, we can influence where developments are located and what services they should have near them, how they are built, as well as how they are maintained throughout their lifetime. All these considerations can help fight climate change.

For example, if new buildings are placed near public transport hubs this will reduce car travel and if they have green roofs, they are less likely to overheat or add to flooding risk as the green roof will absorb storm water.

Planning is a key tool in combating climate change and we are strengthening all our planning policies and processes to make full use of it.

Local Development Framework

Through the replacement of the Unitary Development Plan (which was adopted in 1995) with the Local Development Framework, we are strengthening our environmental policies. The aim is that new development in the borough is both adapted to climatic changes and minimises emissions of carbon dioxide in the longer term.

We carry out a Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Development Framework. This assesses the likely effect it will have on the economy, the environment and the community. The appraisal aims to promote sustainable development, which is about making sure there is a better quality of life for everyone, now and in the future.

Planning Advice Notes on Climate Change

We have also produced 2 planning advice notes which encourage developers to design and build their developments in an environmentally friendly way.

Our planning advice note on Sustainable Design and Construction sets out our requirements on the topics listed below and provides guidance to developers on how to include sustainable measures in their designs:

Environmental assessment methods
Sustainable building materials
Waste - demolition and occupancy
Energy - efficiency and renewables
Water - water reuse, recycling and sustainable drainage systems
Biodiversity

Our planning advice note on Green Roofs provides developers and their design/ architectural teams with specific guidance on installing green roofs, including advice on choosing the right type of green roof, costs and maintenance issues.

We are also developing a planning advice note on flooding which will look at ways in which existing and new development can minimise the risk of flooding. It will also deal with flood resilience measures new development should include in its design.

Flooding

The effects of climate change, such as sea level rise, increased rainfall and storm frequency, means that London and the Thames Estuary will be at greater risk from flooding in future years. With increasing amounts of development and regeneration in these areas, it needs to be acknowledged that more people, buildings and infrastructure will subsequently be exposed to the risk.

We are producing a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment in partnership with the Environment Agency to better assess the threat from flooding faced by Barking and Dagenham and outline the measures we must take to mitigate these.

Information about the borough's Flood Defences and Emergency Plan.

Development Control

Developers are required to submit a Sustainability Statement along with their planning applications detailing the measures they have taken to green their proposed buildings.

A template for this Sustainability Statement can be found on our website. Familiarity with our environmental policies and planning advice notes on climate change are recommended, as is early consultation with the Environmental Sustainability Team.

All major developments, or developments that will have a major impact on the local environment, will require an Environmental Impact Assessment, under UK Planning Law.

An Environmental Impact Assessment will look at sustainable development issues such as the social, noise, air quality, transport, contaminated land, wildlife, heritage and climatic effects that a proposed development will have on an area. The planning process will then design out these impacts. This will mean that the development will have a positive effect on the borough.