Local Plan Main Modifications Consultation

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Policy 5: Criterion 1

All development shall embody sustainable design and carbon reduction measures as far as possible, with an emphasis on a whole life carbon approach and shall be in accordance with current building regulation standards.  [added] Development proposals [added] which seek to [added] achieve zero carbon and optional higher standards [added] will be supported.

1. Development, including refurbishment, conversion and extensions to existing buildings shall, where applicable [removed]  appropriate [added], incorporate sustainable design and construction practices including:
   1. The efficient and sustainable [added] use of materials, mineral resources and minimisation of waste through the reuse of material derived from excavation and demolition. and the incorporation of a proportion of recycled and/or secondary aggregates [removed]
   2. The use of sustainable, e.g. those with low embodied carbon or renewable materials [removed]
   3. Waste and reuse of material [removed]

1. 2. The use of landform, layout, building orientation, massing, and landscaping to reduce energy consumption
   3. Water efficiency that meets the highest national standard [removed]
   4. Measures that enable sustainable lifestyles for the occupants of the buildings.

Justified

Effective

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Policy 5: Criterion 2

2.   Development shall [removed] proposals should [added] seek to follow the energy hierarchy. except where it can be demonstrated that greater sustainability can be achieved by utilising measures further down the hierarchy [removed]

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Policy 5: Criterion 4

4.Where it is not possible to meet these standards [removed] the measures outlined in criteria 1 and 3 (i-v) [added], applicants must demonstrate compelling reasons and [removed] provide evidence as to why achieving the sustainability standards would not be technically feasible or economically viable.

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Policy 5: supporting text 

Minimising energy demand and meeting the borough’s demands for heat and power without increasing carbon emissions to assist South Tyneside in meeting its climate emergency commitments is a priority. Policy 5 sets out ways in which development can reduce energy consumption and support sustainable design.

Development proposals in South Tyneside will be expected to meet current Building Regulations.  However, the Council will also support proposals which seek to adopt further optional standards as set out in national guidance, or schemes which seek to achieve zero carbon in accordance with the Councils wider climate change ambitions. [added]

In 2025 [removed] C [added] c [removed] ompliance with the Future Homes Standard will [removed] is expected to [added] become mandatory within the Plan period [added]. Its aim is to ensure that new homes built from 2027 [added] will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under previous Building Regulations. It will do this by focusing on improving heating, hot water systems, and reducing heat waste. This will be achieved in part by replacing current technologies with low-carbon alternatives.

Development proposals should seek to adopt a holistic approach to sustainability through their design, construction and efficiency.  Schemes should use sustainable construction materials where possible, such as materials with low embodied carbon or renewable materials. The efficient use of materials and minerals should also consider whether a proportion of recycled and/or secondary aggregates, and reuse of material derived from excavation and demolition, would be feasible. [added]

Energy use in the construction and operation of development is currently a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. If South Tyneside is to fully support the achievement of the above targets, then it will be necessary both to minimise energy demands from development and to increase the generation of energy from renewable sources. [removed]

The Energy Hierarchy

The Energy Hierarchy offers an effective framework to guide sustainable energy policy and decision-making. It is a classification of energy options, prioritised to assist progress towards a more sustainable energy system.

The starting point for minimising energy use is to maximise energy efficiency, both in new developments and through the retrofitting of existing buildings. This can have a direct economic benefit in terms of significantly lowering the running costs of new and existing buildings, helping to address fuel poverty, as well as tackling climate change. Exceeding the minimum energy efficiency requirements of Building Regulations will be necessary if emission reduction targets are to be met. [removed]

Where energy use is necessary, priority should be given to utilising the most sustainable sources. Within South Tyneside, the scale and location of development means that [removed] For example [added], there are [removed] may be [added] opportunities to create and connect to district heating networks in parts of the borough, through both new development and the retrofitting of existing buildings [removed] (Policy 6). [added] These areas and connection requirements are identified in Policy 6. [removed]

Zero carbon development means development where emissions from all regulated energy use are eliminated or offset. Offsets must be verifiable, long term and certified by an approved authorised body. The scenario used to produce the offset requirement must be based on realistic occupancy comfort conditions without significantly widening the deadband, e.g. between heating and cooling setpoints. [removed]

Considering operational as well as embodied carbon emissions together over a project’s expected life cycle constitutes the whole life approach. A whole life carbon approach identifies the overall best combined opportunities for reducing lifetime emissions and helps to avoid any unintended consequences of focusing on operational emissions alone. [removed]

For whole life principles to be integrated into the design, procurement, construction processes and beyond, and for project teams to be engaged in a timely fashion, carbon assessments should be carried out at key project stages from concept design to practical completion. Appropriate timing and sequencing of carbon assessments will help identify carbon reduction opportunities and monitor a project’s progress in achieving them. Carbon assessment scenarios must use realistic internal conditions for building services e.g. lighting levels, heating, and cooling setpoints, relative humidity, etc. [removed]

Refurbishment will be encouraged over demolition. When a building is demolished energy is used to deconstruct it, and remove, process and dispose of the waste. CO2 may also be released through associated chemical processes. Building a new replacement requires more materials and energy, creating more embodied carbon. [removed]

The Circular Economy is a system of using resources in a way that designs out waste and promotes the sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishment and recycling of products. Good practice would include measures such as building in layers to allow for targeted maintenance, ensuring waste minimisation is embedded in projects from inception to completion, designing for longevity, designing for adaptability or flexibility, designing for disassembly, and using resources that can be reused. [removed]

Sustainability Statement

The choice of sustainability measures and how they are implemented may vary substantially from development to development. However, the general principles of sustainable design and construction should be applied to all scales and types of development. The Sustainability Statement should demonstrate how proposals avoid increased vulnerability to the impacts arising from climate change through sustainable and resilient design. The Sustainability Statement should be proportionate to the proposed scale of development and clearly set out, providing sufficient detail on how sustainable design solutions have been integrated for both the construction and operation phases of the development.

Major development consists of 10 or more residential units, or non-residential development with a floorspace of 1,000m² or more. In additional, the Council will consider mixed-use development to be major development where either of the thresholds for major development are met. Non-major or smaller scale development means any development of a smaller scale than major development, including minor and householder development.

Further guidance regarding the requirements of a sustainability statement can be found in the Tyneside Validation Checklist. Additional advice can be sought through the Council’s pre-application enquiry service. [added]