Climate strategy questions and answers
Questions submitted during our launch event and public webinar have been grouped into themes and answers provided below.
In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report that made it clear that there were only 12 years (to 2030) to act on climate change, in order to avoid irreversible consequences of a changing climate, which include flooding, drought, extreme weather, impact on livelihoods and loss of species, which all have knock on effects. Wiltshire Council (along with many other councils) acknowledged this emergency in February 2019. The council has already been working for over a decade on climate and energy but the urgency means that action needs to be at a quicker pace. In response to the acknowledgement of the climate emergency, a Global Warming and Climate Emergency Task Group of councillors was set up in 2019, and the council has now adopted its Climate Strategy to steer action.
We are already seeing effects of climate change in Wiltshire. Even if all carbon emissions stopped today the climate will continue to change due to the emissions already released. Local impacts include hotter drier summers, warmer wetter winters, increased frequency of extreme weather such as storms, heavier rainfall and intense heat. This can cause flooding, fires, land slippage, droughts, crop failure, a faster pace of plant and animal extinction and damage to buildings and infrastructure such as is being seen in other parts of the world. Disruptions to the global economy and supply chains will also affect us here, including migration pressure from "climate refugees" and food shortages as other parts of the world experience more severe impacts.
Looking ahead, the cost of climate change to the council, businesses and individuals is only likely to grow. Limiting these impacts will require a local and global effort to cut carbon emissions whilst at the same time preparing for intensifying climate change. This preparation is called "climate adaptation". For more information see our Climate change adaptation plan (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window) .
Only 6 out of 191 countries have not ratified the Paris Agreement to strive to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade. Most countries have climate plans although the combined impact of these plans won't yet achieve the goal. Transitioning the world economy away from fossil fuels is very challenging and the power to make it happen is spread across individuals, businesses and governments - each relies on the other to act. There is also a case that the UK should take strong action, if you count historic emissions going back to the Industrial Revolution the UK is the 7th highest emitter in the world (IOP Science: Paper Open Access - National contributions to observed global warming (opens new window)), despite our small size.
By acknowledging a climate emergency, Wiltshire Council has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership which in turn influences our residents, businesses and national governments. This leadership can be global, as countries like the UK have the resources to model a low carbon economy for less developed countries, enabling them to "leapfrog" a high carbon economy and increase their prosperity with far lower emissions.
Recent polling (opens new window) (August 2021) suggests that after COVID, climate change and pollution is now the biggest public concern in the UK. The Strategy notes that polling within Wiltshire found it was the largest concern. Interestingly though, other polls have found that a large majority of people don't believe that other people are concerned and pessimistic that other people will change. This reduces the likelihood that people will take action themselves. It is likely this is partially caused by people not talking about climate change - and means that if you do talk about climate change, it can have a big impact on how effective others feel climate action will be.
As explained on page 4 of the Climate Strategy, the strategy sets a framework for reducing emissions in Wiltshire over the next five years and for making the county resilient to climate impacts. This strategy is not a statutory document but it will influence other key council strategies and plans such as our Business Plan, our emerging Local Plan and our Local Transport Plan.
We are committed to becoming carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030. We will also seek to make the whole of Wiltshire carbon neutral by that date. As recognised by the national Committee on Climate Change local authorities can only influence a third of total emissions in their area. Therefore we need to work with others to tackle the remaining emissions.
This isn't just a PR exercise - we are committed to this agenda and reducing carbon emissions. Our track record speaks for itself: we have reduced our own carbon footprint by more than 80% since 2014/15 and are on track for more reductions through a major investment programme. We have allocated £88m capital and £3.9m revenue so far for this.
We publish reports on our progress online every six months and our last progress update in Cabinet agenda and reports - 1 February 2022 (opens new window).
The council did not wait for the Strategy to be adopted to start delivering on its commitment, with many projects already underway. For the latest update on existing projects which will continue to deliver results over the next 2 years, please see the Cabinet agenda and reports - 1 February 2022 (opens new window). Following adoption of the strategies, delivery plans will be produced which will have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that we will be able to report progress against. The first implementation plan is our Electric Vehicle infrastructure plan, which will be considered by Cabinet later this year. Other delivery plans will follow.
The council actively lobbies government and this is a key area of focus as set out in our Climate Strategy (see p 35). As national policy and legislation are crucial enablers of action at a local level, we are involved in influential national networks to shape and inform central government thinking.
Through the UK100 (which Wiltshire Council chairs), ADEPT, Local Government Association and County Councils Network we raise issues such as the need to amend national planning policy along with other local authorities.
We will continue to make progress on Wiltshire Council's own emissions and we are committed to our 2030 goal. For the county as a whole, 2030 is a lot more challenging as we do not have direct control over all of the county's emissions, and the central government net zero goal remains at 2050. We have pledged to seek to make the county of Wiltshire carbon neutral by 2030. We will work with partners and residents towards the goal and put policies and initiatives in place so that by 2030 we are well on the way.
Also answered verbally at the Climate Change and Green and Blue Infrastructure Launch event - YouTube: Climate Strategy consultation Launch Event 9 Sept 2021 (opens new window).
The strategies will influence the development of other plans and programmes, including the Local Transport Plan and Local Plan Review. From a land-use planning perspective, the Local Plan Review will provide an opportunity to address public health matters through ensuring new development delivers greater self-containment, more active travel and high-quality design that provides access to interconnected open spaces.
We are working very closely with our public health colleagues, particularly on tackling fuel poverty. The focus for this year has been ensuring low-income residents can access government funding streams. For example, we have a brand-new scheme launching soon that will give any household with an income of £30,000 or less, and living in a property that is rated D, E, F or G for its energy efficiency, the chance to access up to £10,000 for improvements such as like insulation, solar panels, double glazing and new front doors. More information can be found on our What you can do as an individual web page.
The strategy sets out, as an immediate area of focus, integrating carbon reduction and climate resilience into decision making. Undertaking this will help to ensure that the strategy is embedded across all council departments.
We undertook consultation earlier last year on how the emerging Local Plan Review can contribute to addressing climate change. Please see Local Plan Review consultation 2021. A central part of the Local Plan will be the spatial strategy and delivery of a sustainable distribution of growth that promotes self-containment and reduces the need to travel. These important themes align with the Climate Strategy. In addition, the consultation information on our main settlements also show how we are taking into consideration the importance of green and blue infrastructure in planning for future growth at these places.
Whilst the Climate and Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategies have been published after our consultation on the Local Plan Review, the draft of the Strategies and the evidence they rely upon informed the documents we consulted upon. It is important to recognise that we are working towards the preparation of the Local Plan Review and the consultation documents were a stepping-stone towards achieving that goal. More Local Plan Review consultations will follow. The process of preparing the Local Plan Review will be informed by the Climate Strategy and Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. We are not starting from scratch as current Local Plan policies already relate to both strategies, but we want to shape its policies to go further.
As we continue to prepare the Local Plan Review through to formal consultation and subsequent examination, the Climate and Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategies will continue support our evidential approach to tackling climate change through land-use planning.
We defined this in our Climate Strategy Discussion Document January 2021 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window) :
"'Net zero carbon emissions' or 'net zero carbon' is conceptually the same as carbon neutral, though there are some different technical specifications in use. Carbon neutral
means to result in no net release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and should take into account schemes which offset carbon production".
The Climate Strategy proposes following the Greenhouse Gas Hierarchy, making sure that low carbon technologies and offsetting do not take the focus away from reducing energy use in the first place.
The strategies need to be read alongside other legislative and national policy provisions. For example, take planning for Wiltshire's future. As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has three overarching objectives relating to the economy, society and environment, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways.
This is something that will need to be looked at as part of our delivery plans and through our procurement. Page 35 of the climate strategy highlights for immediate action that we will work with the supply community to help achieve economic, environmental and social benefits for the public good and the people of Wiltshire when we buy goods or services.
The strategies are framework documents that set a clear direction for the council and clarifies the areas of focus for the next five years. Specific areas of focus for immediate action are highlighted throughout the Climate Strategy with an exclamation mark. Our regular progress updates to Cabinet and Council show that action is already being taken - we are not waiting for the strategies to be adopted to take action.
Both strategies will be supported by implementation and delivery plans which will have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that we will be able evaluate and report progress against. The first implementation plan is our Electric Vehicle infrastructure plan. Other delivery plans will follow.
The climate strategy sets out the national context and targets as it will need to work within them, however, Wiltshire Council is being much more ambitious than national government with a target date of 2030.
Funding is going to be key for many of the actions set out in the climate strategy and we have been looking at the work of our neighbouring and other authorities as we have developed the draft climate strategy. Further work is on-going within the delivery plans.
The council engages with partners such as the MOD through the Wiltshire Public Service Board and the army is leading in key areas of carbon emissions reduction.
The main way that we can look to ensure new development, including housing, can be more sustainable is through changes to our planning policy. We are currently going through a review of the Local Plan with the aim to have stronger requirements, including in relation to house building. The review of planning documents has many statutory stages and it takes quite a while, with the revised Local Plan adoption target being 2023. We are also looking to lead the way and have strong sustainable policies for our own new build council houses and council house retrofit.
In terms of requiring new homes to be built to higher energy standards or zero carbon, we're working on it. The Wiltshire Core Strategy, adopted in 2015, contains policy requiring homes to be built to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. However, the Code was then withdrawn nationally in favour of administering standards via Building Regulations, and the government at the time announced that local authorities should not be setting or using higher energy standards than building regulations in their plans. Whilst the Government has since changed this position, we cannot yet require carbon neutral standards from developers, as the existing policies of the Wiltshire Core Strategy are the basis of planning decisions.
Other councils such as B&NES and Cornwall will propose net zero policies sooner because the timing of their local plan-making process is ahead of Wiltshire's. These policies will need to be adopted through an Examination In Public by a national planning inspector. The outcome will set a precedent for what is possible elsewhere. Wiltshire Council is submitting a consultation representation in support of the B&NES policies. However, apart from the London Plan and the Reading Local Plan, we are not aware of any adopted Local Plans that enable net zero planning policies to be implemented. Both of these are within the London Housing market and different to the market in a shire county.
But we can encourage developers to improve standards while we work to develop the new policy through the Local Plan review, and we are doing that.
For more information see Local Plan.
Currently, planning applications for housing development are dealt with on own their merits and in line with local and national policy. Core Policy 41 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy alongside current Building Regulations encourages a fabric first approach to energy efficiency in new homes, which means maximising the performance of the components and materials that make up the building fabric itself.
Subject to viability assessment and technical evidence on feasibility, the Local Plan Review will likely go further and set out a clear policy position on the standards that all new development will need to meet in terms of energy efficiency. This could include the installation of solar panels to provide enough renewable energy to meet the total anticipated energy use for heating and electrical appliances.
Our drainage team provides technical advice to applicants on ground water issues based upon information provided by the Environment Agency. Saving water within planned development sites can be achieved through policies to deliver rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, sustainable drainage systems, and nature-based drainage solutions. Such measures are encouraged through national and existing local planning policies.
All new homes, commercial buildings and certain retrofitting measures must be compliant with Building Regulations. The Council works within an assessment framework to ensure this compliance activity is lawfully discharged.
Core Policy 41 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy anticipates that all planning applications for new commercial and industrial buildings need to be supported by a Sustainable Energy Strategy covering this. Such evidence should demonstrate that all non-residential development is built to BREEAM Excellent standards from 2019.
The Local Plan Review will look to build on the current Local Plan policy through the development of policy to cover the potential for more renewable energy generation in commercial buildings, such as solar panels on roofs.
Whilst listed properties can be more challenging in terms of their retrofit, there are opportunities for measures to be undertaken. As also highlighted in the Climate Strategy Historic England and others offer guides to help consider what could be done to historic properties:
Historic England: Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings (opens new window)
The Government have committed to ensuring that from 2025 all new homes will be fuelled by sustainable electricity heating systems rather than fossil fuel systems. The Government will be consulting on a revised 'Future Homes Standard' in 2023. Legislation to mandate the standard (including energy efficiency and heating) will be brought forward in 2024 and enacted in 2025. Low carbon heating for new build is also something we can consider in the Local Plan Review.
Each planning application must be decided in accordance with our local plan policies and any other relevant material considerations. These have to be considered and balanced based on the individual circumstance of each planning application and as such the planning conditions can vary between applications.
To meet the needs of Wiltshire's communities we need to prepare a Local Plan that provides for the new jobs required by our economy and the new homes for our growing and ageing population, while balancing the need to protect and enhance the environment. We also need to deal with planning applications as they arise. The aim is to get to net zero carbon development in the future. This doesn't mean no emissions but that we need to reduce emissions as much as possible.
The Environment Bill will require developments to leave the natural environment in a better state than before. It will ensure this through a new biodiversity net gain requirement that the council will use to ensure that the natural environment is enhanced.
In preparing the Local Plan Review and identifying allocations for proposed new development, we are legally obliged to contribute to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. The Climate and Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategies will help inform the evidence that supports the Local Plan Review.
Unfortunately, all Wiltshire's development needs cannot be met on brownfield sites and a balance is needed to ensure there is the right policy framework in place to maximise the use of such sites while minimising greenfield sites.
The consultation on the emerging Local Plan Review proposed the identification of a brownfield target for the main settlements as part of the mix of development - the need to maximise the use of such sites is recognised.
Paragraph 174 of the National Planning Policy Framework requires that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by:
(a) protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, sites of biodiversity or geological value and soils (in a manner commensurate with their statutory status or identified quality in the development plan)
(b) recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services - including the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, and of trees and woodland...(two of 5 objectives)
We therefore need to minimise loss of farmland where possible, but the protection of farmland needs to be balanced with the other land uses that we need to plan to meet objectively assessed needs. The Local Plan Review will, in accordance with national policy, ensure that we seek to prioritise the regeneration of brownfield sites, but we cannot rely solely on such sites to meet all the housing and employment needs that our evidence says must be addressed through the plan-led system.
It is not quite right that we are rural cutting verges less; we are cutting a similar amount as previously, but we have changed the timing of our mowing. We now start to cut visibility areas for the safety of road users in May, and these continue through June. The remainder of the network then receives a single swathe cut through September and October.
While 'cut and collect' is a mowing process that does encourage wildflowers, there are limitations on the locations where it can be deployed. Currently we use a rear mounted collector flail, so any verge needs to be both wide enough and level enough for a tractor to drive along it. In addition to this we are not hauling our cuttings from site - instead, we heap them within the verge to compost down. To remove them completely would come at an increased cost, both in terms of finance and carbon. We currently use 'cut and collect' along the A350 from Shaftesbury to the M4 as these verges lend themselves to this treatment. In November, we will be reviewing our verge cutting for next year.
Legislation sets out that planning decisions must be taken in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Added to this, waste policy at Wiltshire, which is based on the national waste policy, allows for incineration. Air quality is considered within the planning officer's report and looks at a range of information, including that the Environment Agency would need to give the new plant an Environment Permit for it to be able to run. This permit will look at air quality and emissions. Full details on all considerations can be found in the planning officer's report.
Over 40% of Wiltshire is covered by some form of Landscape designation be that AONBs, National Parks or World Heritage sites. We recognise the importance of management plans for these designated landscapes and will ensure any strategies and future delivery plans fully integrate the management aims of specific landscape management plans that effect the county. We have also been reviewing the Landscape Character Assessments for Wiltshire and we have a draft Landscape Strategy that we will be consulting on next year.
Domestic retrofit is a big area to tackle and we've highlighted the need to engage with householders on this topic in the Climate Strategy - we see it as a key area for immediate action. The focus for this year has been ensuring low-income residents can access government funding streams. For example, we ran a scheme that gave households with an income of £30,000 or less, and living in a property that is rated D, E, F or G for its energy efficiency, the chance to access up to £10,000 for measures such as insulation, solar panels, double glazing and new front doors.
We will build on the knowledge and skills from these programmes, plus the knowledge we are gaining from our own council house retrofit programme, and the many useful resources being produced nationally to consider how we can help more residents to take action in the coming years.
Schemes already exist for council tenants and those in fuel poverty. Some other local authorities, including our neighbours at Bath and North East Somerset Council are offering discounts on solar panels through bulk-buying schemes and so our climate team are currently looking into this.
Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPS) are being developed for Salisbury, Chippenham and Trowbridge, as well as for Wiltshire as a whole. These will help to look at what is needed to support people in using walking and cycling as a means to travel, as much as they can.
The council is currently drafting a Bus Service Improvement Plan, as required by the government's Bus Back Better strategy. This aims to improve the public transport offer in Wiltshire.
The first delivery plan is our Electric Vehicle infrastructure plan. Other delivery plans will follow. The EV infrastructure plan focuses on the actions needed in the shorter term, and a longer-term strategy will be incorporated in the Local Transport Plan which will undergo full consultation.
Further details of how the council will support walking, cycling, public transport and uptake of EVs will be considered through the delivery planning.
The climate strategy objectives relating to public transport are mainly focused on the potential of bus services as this is an area the council can currently influence, for example through the Bus Service Improvement Plan, however we recognise the role of the railway in Wiltshire and we have submitted bids to build train stations in Devizes, Wilton and Corsham, and we hope they will be successful.
The council has an Active Travel delivery group which consists of officers from different departments which helps each of these service areas to understand each other's objectives in relation to active travel and to align these going forward, including through development of the Local Transport Plan and Local Plan. Walking and cycling links in new development are already considered through the site allocation and planning application process, and the Local Plan review is an opportunity to look at new policy in relation to new development. Existing 'Town Cycle Networks' and the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans that are being developed set out improvements that can be enabled through new development.
No, there has not been a public consultation on EV charging. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan is the first delivery plan associated with the Climate Strategy. Other delivery plans will follow. The EV infrastructure plan focused on the actions needed in the shorter term, and a longer-term strategy will be incorporated in the Local Transport Plan which will undergo full consultation.
The spheres in the "levers of influence" diagram are not exhaustive; Transport falls within various of the spheres - for example through the Regulatory role (transport planning), Direct control (fleet), Leadership, Partnerships and Enabling.
This is reflected in the work underway on transport. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPS) are being developed for Salisbury, Chippenham and Trowbridge, as well as for Wiltshire as a whole. These will help to look at what is needed to support people in using walking and cycling as a means to travel, as much as they can.
The council is currently drafting a Bus Service Improvement Plan, as required by the government's Bus Back Better strategy. This aims to improve the public transport offer in Wiltshire.
The first delivery plan is our Electric Vehicle infrastructure plan. Other delivery plans will follow. The EV infrastructure plan focuses on the actions needed in the shorter term, and a longer-term strategy will be incorporated in the Local Transport Plan which will undergo full consultation.
Further details of how the council will support walking, cycling, public transport and uptake of EVs will be considered through the delivery planning.
The EV infrastructure plan has focused on the actions needed in the shorter term, and a longer-term strategy will be incorporated in the Local Transport Plan which will undergo full consultation. There should be opportunities for EV users to input both to the delivery of the current plan, as well the longer-term strategy.
Our current electric vehicle charging infrastructure is operated by a commercial provider. The infrastructure is in need of replacement, and the commercial provider is not prepared to do this without a new long-term agreement. As the work required will have a significant cost, we have to follow our usual procurement procedures. As previously stated, the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan was considered at Cabinet on the 12 October, and the papers are published on our website Agenda Cabinet - Tuesday 12 October 2021 10.00 am (opens new window). This document includes residential charging, and destination and workplace charging, so we are moving closer to a county-wide solution on EV charging. One of the reasons for producing a short-term EV charging plan was to address the issue of charging infrastructure that is in need of replacement.
Wiltshire Council acknowledges that it will have limited control or influence over some of the county's emissions- for example Scope 3 (indirect) emissions from products consumed within the district but manufactured elsewhere, or, as noted here, through-traffic from elsewhere.
However, the council actively lobbies government and this is a key area of focus as set out in our Climate Strategy (see p 35). As national policy and legislation are crucial enablers of action at a local level, we are involved in influential national networks to shape and inform central government thinking.
Through the UK100 (which Wiltshire Council chairs), ADEPT, Local Government Association and County Councils Network we raise issues such as the need to amend national policy along with other local authorities.
The Climate Strategy says that we will work with farmers and farming networks to see where the council can support farmers and agricultural businesses in reducing emissions and improving ecosystems in order to capture carbon dioxide. We look forward to working with farmers and agricultural businesses to develop ways to progress the objectives of the strategy.
Perhaps the most obvious way for us to engage with agricultural businesses would seem to be through our county farms tenants. However, we are conscious of the pressure farmers are under, particularly as new payment schemes and guidelines are being introduced.
We also want to align with and add value to what farming networks and businesses are already doing, such as the NFU's aim for agriculture to be carbon neutral by 2040. We will identify where the council is best placed to act, which will include considering Defra initiatives and the ELM scheme.
We are working with multiple landowners as well as our county farms to look at ways that they can improve biodiversity. These include nutrient management schemes and biodiversity enhancements.
The climate strategy addresses both mitigation and adaptation. One of the three main goals of the strategy is to be resilient to the impacts of climate change associated with 2oC temperature rise, and will be included in the delivery of each theme. For example, page 19 of the strategy illustrates the measures that buildings will need to take to be both zero carbon and resilience to climate impacts. Page 21 mentions the need to ensure transport infrastructure is resilient to climate change.
The natural environment, food and farming theme talks about using nature-based solutions to help adapt and be resilient to climate change and we are already looking at nature-based solutions for water management that will use improved soil quality and vegetation to increase natural water retention.
The council already has a Climate change adaptation plan (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window) and the strategy highlights that this will be updated.
We will be working on the Wiltshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy over the next 18 months in partnership with the Wilshire Wildlife Trust and other key stakeholders. This will need to go through a series of community engagement and consultation stages which will inform the final strategy. To ensure that these stages are given sufficient time it is currently anticipated to be finalised and published early 2023.
In order to keep the size of the document manageable we have scaled down the size of many of the supporting evidence maps so the document did not become unwieldy. The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy is supported by an Evidence Base document on Green and blue infrastructure which gives more detail on the maps used to inform the strategy.
Where Wiltshire Council has direct control over green and blue infrastructure assets it will be looking at management opportunities that will support the goals and objectives of this strategy. For example, it is already managing some of the grass verges adjacent to the highway for wildflowers and similar initiatives will be explored across other council assets. Where Wiltshire Council does not have direct responsibility over green and blue infrastructure assets it will work with landowners, developers and communities to help secure funding from a range of local, regional and national sources. An important potential source of funding for green and blue infrastructure in the future will be developer Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) contributions which will help deliver on site biodiversity improvements as well as off-site enhancements where this cannot be accommodated on the development land.
Tree Preservation Orders are an important tool for protecting certain trees, groups of trees and woodlands. The law states that local authorities must decide upon the 'amenity' benefit of the tree or trees in question before enacting TPO legislation. Whilst there is no legal definition of 'amenity' it is generally assumed to mean the importance of a tree's visual or cultural amenity within a particular rural or urban setting. It is important to realise that TPO's are not the only protection afforded to trees in the landscape. Woodlands can be protected due to their age, or biodiversity whilst every developer is required to undertake an arboricultural survey to set out the existing trees and hedges on the development site and ensure that the development is designed to retain as much of the original vegetation as possible.
The GBI strategy is a high level document that sets the scene for more detailed guidance in the Wiltshire Nature recovery strategy and Wiltshire local settlement frameworks in the future to ensure trees and hedges as well as the many other important habitats across Wiltshire are properly integrated with future development.
The GBI Strategy forms part of the evidence base for the Local Plan Review and will be used to influence the review of our existing Core Policy 52 - Green Infrastructure. The Local Plan Review will be setting policies that conserve and enhance the natural environment as anticipated by national planning policy.
40% of the Wiltshire Countryside is covered by some form of landscape designation due to its visual sensitivity. Whilst tree and woodland planting will play an important part in the county's natural carbon sequestration approach, this will need to be undertaken sensitively to ensure the right trees and woodlands are located in the right places and as part of a combined response to better grassland and soil management working closely with farmers and landowners.
Riparian owners are responsible for the maintenance of watercourses adjacent to their land. Often this will include roadside ditches or watercourses that highways drainage assets flow into. Wiltshire Council's drainage team try to work constructively with landowners to ensure critical drainage assets outside of our control are maintained regularly by those responsible. Notices can be issued in certain circumstances where riparian owners fail to undertake their duties. If there is a particular issue, please do contact our drainage team for more advice at drainage@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).
Present legislation requires that new developments do not lead to greater surface water run-off from the proposed development site than what was previously there before development. In order to attenuate the additional run-off caused by roofs and paving most developments will use a wide variety of Sustainable Drainage Systems to slow, retain, and even treat peak surface water flows before allowing them to gradually be released in order to meet the statutorily allowed maximum run-off rate.
The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy is a high level 'vision' document for how we can enhance all the green and blue infrastructure corridors across Wiltshire including the Avon Valley. It does not provide statutory protection as this is not the aim or purpose of a green and blue infrastructure strategy. Instead with the Wiltshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the Settlement Frameworks it will provide a gradually more detailed integrated understanding as to where we need to either enhance or create additional habitat to support wildlife across Wiltshire that will integrate with future development.
Access to the natural environment is a crucial part of the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy in order that our communities can benefit from the important restorative effects of experiencing nature. If there is a particular issue with a Public Right of Way in your community, please report it to our Rights of Way Team via the MyWilts App (https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywilts-online-reporting).
Regulation around the use of chemicals nationally is not something that the council can control. It manages its own use and limits it as far as possible. The council will be working with farmers and landowners to consider new alternative farming practices and this is also something that DEFRA is pursuing.
The council does not use any pesticides or herbicides on its rural highway, open space or amenity land, where weeds are controlled using mechanical methods only. On the highway in towns and villages where there is a kerb, the council uses the herbicide glyphosate once a year by controlled droplet application (CDA) to maximise the effectiveness of any treatment and minimise the use of chemicals. Weed control on the highway is important for reducing maintenance costs because weeds can cause damage to the highway network such as breaking up tarmac. The council will undertake a review of alternatives to glyphosate and seek innovation in the new highway and amenity contracts which will be let in 2022 and 2023.
Wiltshire has some extremely important waterway habitats including the chalk streams of the Hampshire Avon. In recognition of the issues faced by these sensitive habitats the council has in place a dedicated Senior Nutrient Project Officer who is already working with statutory agencies, including Natural England and the Environment Agency, as well as landowners to realise mitigation projects on the ground. The council has identified funding to support the delivery of these projects some of which will be delivered from this autumn.
The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, Our Natural Environment Plan, provides a high-level strategic vision for the future of how we improve biodiversity in Wiltshire over the coming decade. The detail of habitat interconnectivity will be developed in Wiltshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy aligned with the vision, goals and principles set out in the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. This will be developed over the coming months and will be subject to a separate series of community engagement and consultation.
We recognise the importance of sustainable timber production not only in supporting the green economy and capturing carbon but also as a way of supporting biodiverse habitats. This does have to be balanced with Wiltshire's important landscape designations and landscape character so that the right tree planting is put in the right places. But there is potentially a place for both.
We recognise the crucial part that canals already have and will increasingly play as part of the green and blue infrastructure of Wiltshire. These are already supported in our planning policies, Core Policy 52 (Green Infrastructure) and Core Policy 53 (Canals).
The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, Our Natural Environment Plan, is a high-level framework document, and a series of gradually more detailed plans will follow from it. These plans will include the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Settlement Frameworks that will set out how the Cotswold, Kennet and Avon, and Wilts and Berks Canals will support wider enhancements to biodiversity, the green economy, tourism and leisure for Wiltshire.
The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy recognises the importance of all the river corridors and catchments in Wiltshire as the basis of much of our most distinct and diverse habitat. However, this strategy is not about stopping development but ensuring that it is well designed and placed so that it supports all three goals of:
- Adaptation, mitigation and resilience to climate change; and
- Halting the loss of and improving biodiversity
- Contributing to health and wellbeing.
Definition of green and blue infrastructure is wide ranging, and its importance will vary depending on its location and function. For example, a network of corridors and spaces is particularly important to ensure the integration of the natural environment with our built-up areas and to allow for the movement of wildlife. The Strategy provides further information about this.
Both the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and the Climate Strategy see the importance of working with landowners and farmers across Wiltshire as key to improving biodiversity, improving carbon sequestration and maintaining sustainable UK based agriculture into the future. The protection of farmland needs to be balanced with the other land uses that we need to plan for as a society.
The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy provides a 'vision' for the future of our natural environment in Wiltshire and sets out goals and delivery principles for how to achieve this. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will support the goals, particularly around enhancing biodiversity, and will set this out in more detail. The LNRS will consider existing and potential habitat enhancements that are needed to support a strong and connected ecological network.
The settlement frameworks will relate to our main settlements (Salisbury city and the market towns). They will help inform the development and implementation of local plan policies for these places and how any development proposals identified for inclusion in the plan should be developed. Please see the recent consultation on the Local Plan review to see how proposals can be shaped. In a similar way they can inform neighbourhood plans.
There are different models for the creation and maintenance of open space. The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy recognises that different organisations can all play a role in this.
The strategy mentions that, in partnership with others, the council will develop an active travel network that is inclusive, safe and enjoyable to use, meets the latest design guidance and embraces new modes such as e-bikes. Routes should coincide with the Rights of Way network, canals, green open spaces and wildlife corridors where appropriate.
We have a challenge to retrofit cycling and walking routes into our existing transport networks as well as looking at segregated routes and we'll work with stakeholders to find realistic and optimal solutions.
The solar farm applications coming to Wiltshire are generally significant in size, with many of them just under the threshold to be decided nationally. They are also complex, with many considerations, and this can lead to applications taking a considerable amount of time to decide, particularly if changes need to be made to the plans along the process of the application.
Several parish councils have raised concerns about large scale solar farms. As part of the Local Plan Review in June, Cabinet agreed that further work will be undertaken on key parts of the evidence base for the plan, including a Wiltshire-wide assessment of renewable energy potential. We are commissioning independent consultants to assist us with this to inform the Local Plan and help us consider how our existing policies need to be added to or changed.
In the meantime, we will continue to consider planning applications carefully, as we are obliged to by law, and we will assess these against the current development plan.
We will look into working with community energy companies but can only commit to this if it is financially viable for the council to do so.
The council looked at renewable potential in the county for the last local plan and intends to commission an updated study to look at renewable energy for this local plan review. Grid electricity is also becoming increasingly powered by renewables and this is set to continue.
The council looked at renewable potential in the county for the last local plan and intends to commission an updated study to look at renewable energy for this local plan review with a view to developing renewable energy policy. Grid electricity is also becoming increasingly powered by renewables and this is set to continue.
The National Planning Policy Framework explains that all communities have a responsibility to help increase the use and supply of green energy, but this does not mean that the need for renewable energy automatically overrides environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. Therefore, there is no scope for 'lowering the bar' to support more renewable technology. In addition, as with other types of development, it is important that the planning concerns of local communities are properly heard in matters that directly affect them.
Local and neighbourhood plans are the key to delivering development that has the backing of local communities. When drawing up a Local Plan local, planning authorities should first consider what the local potential is for renewable and low carbon energy generation. This is why we are developing our evidence on such matters to enable us to develop a plan-led approach to renewable energy.
Identifying areas suitable for renewable energy in plans gives greater certainty as to where such development will be permitted. For example, where councils have identified suitable areas for large scale solar farms, they should not have to give permission outside those areas for speculative applications involving the same type of development when they judge the impact to be unacceptable.
In the case of wind turbines, a planning application should not be approved unless the proposed development site is an area identified as suitable for wind energy development in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan.
We have plans to both increase our own renewable energy generation and also to facilitate renewable energy generation across Wiltshire. We are already using our estate to generate energy, and we have recently accessed £4.6m of Government funding to decarbonise heating and install solar panels on 19 of our buildings. Some of these are already installed, while others will be installed in the coming months. We're now looking at what we can do for other buildings in our estate.
We are keen to encourage people to shop local, and purchase local products with lower carbon mileage. Our Shop Local campaign in the summer created 1.2 million page impressions, with over 1,700 hours of campaign exposure. We are currently exploring further measures to increase the proportion of spend we keep locally, including access to low-emission delivery services, local accreditation and loyalty schemes, and support with digital and social media promotion for local businesses.
We are committed to supporting the growth of businesses focused on sustainability, including supporting green independent retailers and encouraging existing retailers to become more sustainable. Our team is currently considering a number of schemes to support independent retailers, including options for sustainable delivery that would make greener choices easier for local people, green accreditation schemes that market local products and local businesses, plus support for new sustainable start-ups on our high streets. To stay informed as our plans develop, please make sure you business newsletter (opens new window) (select business newsletter).
We see green skills as an area of real opportunity in Wiltshire and we want to do much more which is why it has been included in our Climate Change strategy.Some of the things we are currently doing include:
- We have an Education, Employment and Skills Advisory Group which includes training provider networks and our Careers Hub, working alongside employer networks such as Federation of Small Businesses and Chambers of Commerce etc. This group is exploring the opportunities afforded by green skills and will continue to pursue these although the nature of such initiatives is that they take time to develop.
- The council has invested £50m in retrofitting its council homes over the next 10 years which will stimulate the local retrofit market and create demand for key skills in home energy efficiency and heat pumps for example.
- The Swindon and Wiltshire Careers Hub promotes green skills opportunities to careers teams at schools and colleges. The information is provided to either increase knowledge of careers staff or for the school or college to forward to students via their own careers newsletter or at guidance interviews. Examples include:
- Labour Market Information data from the Local Government Association that shows that by 2050, Wiltshire will have over 13,000 jobs in the low carbon and renewable energy sectors and how green jobs are an important growth sector for the South West.
- Signposting an event to coincide with Earth Day. 'Our Planet, Your Path' from Like To Be detailed career opportunities in green industries. Students were able to access the talks and resources at any point throughout the day or after the event.
- Promoting employer-led events and activities for Green Skills Week hosted by Speakers for Schools.
- The Careers Hub also works with local and national employers to increase their participation in school or college careers activities. For example, SSE have set up a five-year STEM education strategy to work in partnership with schools. The schools have signed an agreement for SSE to deliver a series of workshops and lessons around various sectors in SSE, including Green Energy.
The strategies need to be read alongside other legislative and national policy provisions. For example, take planning for Wiltshire's future. As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has three overarching objectives relating to the economy, society and environment, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways. Tourism contributes to the economy of Wiltshire.
Through our household waste management strategy, we are committed to supporting residents in minimising the waste they produce, and we continue to subsidise the cost of food waste digesters that are capable of composting a typical household's garden and food waste, while also producing a high-quality compost for the garden.
We know that other councils successfully collect food waste from the kerbside, but in Wiltshire, and other large shire councils, food waste collection costs are a significant barrier to the introduction of weekly food waste collections. We currently divert 110,000 tonnes of residual waste from landfill each year, with 50,000 tonnes each year sent to an 'Energy from Waste' facility, and 60,000 tonnes managed through a Mechanical Biological Treatment facility in the county. Therefore, a significant proportion of food waste present in the residual waste we collect at the kerbside is used as a fuel rather than going to landfill.
Although there is currently no specific legislation that requires local authorities to provide a separate collection for food waste, the Government is currently consulting on policy that would mandate consistency in household and business recycling collections in England. This is also expected to include the introduction of weekly food waste collections, with a target date for implementing into UK legislation from 2023. These proposals, and others contained within the Environment Bill, are subject to further consultation, so we will continue to engage in this process and are monitoring developments closely.
The council's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 relates to direct, or scope 1 and 2 emissions only but we will also need to address our indirect or 'scope 3' emissions which includes all contracted services. Page 34 of the climate strategy highlights for immediate action: "Work with the council's supply community, to help achieve economic, environmental and social benefits for the public good and the people of Wiltshire (including reduced carbon emissions) when the council buys goods or services".
Since waste treatment is outsourced to third party providers, the providers' emissions are part of the Council's Scope 3 emissions.
We are developing a framework to work with suppliers and companies that are contracted by the council to provide services. Through procurement processes we will be able to ask companies to share their data on their direct emissions, or carbon intensity of their product or service, which then becomes part of our scope 3 indirect emissions. We have some areas, such as energy use by schools and staff commuting, that we have some influence over. We will be working to increase our measuring and monitoring of emissions, while working with partners to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The council publishes an 'end user register' on the website showing where waste is processed as well as what happens to residual waste: https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/what-happens-to-recycling
The climate strategy quotes - 98% of the waste that the council collected for recycling, composting or reuse was managed within the UK in 2020/21
The council's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 relates to direct, or scope 1 and 2 emissions only but we will also need to address our indirect or 'scope 3' emissions which includes all contracted services. Page 34 of the climate strategy highlights for immediate action: "Work with the council's supply community, to help achieve economic, environmental and social benefits for the public good and the people of Wiltshire (including reduced carbon emissions) when the council buys goods or services".
We are developing a framework to work with suppliers and companies that are contracted by the council to provide services. Through procurement processes we will be able to ask companies to share their data on their direct emissions, or carbon intensity of their product or service, which then becomes part of our scope 3 indirect emissions. We have some areas, such as energy use by schools and staff commuting, that we have some influence over. We will be working to increase our measuring and monitoring of emissions, while working with partners to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our Strategic Procurement team is working to ensure that social value considerations are incorporated into procurement, such as including questions on carbon emissions in tender processes and setting up contracts to include performance indicators that track emissions.
Social value also includes broader social, environmental and economic considerations, and makes sure that public money is spent for the public good. The climate team has been involved in a number of contracts that have come up for renewal in the past year and will continue to be part of the cross-departmental working group that is looking to embed social value into our procurement across the board.
As reported in the February and July updates to cabinet (see Climate emergency) on tackling the climate emergency, the Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee has been devoting significant time over the last year to climate change, to determine how we can best protect the Fund's investments and position ourselves to take advantage of investment opportunities. As a result of the recent work, which includes climate change scenario modelling, the Committee has now set a target for the investment portfolios, of net zero by 2050. This will help to safeguard the investments and improve returns. The Committee has also approved spend to work with Mercer (the Fund's investment advisers) to develop a plan to ensure that the net zero target is achieved - this will include interim targets and monitoring.
The Council's commitment to carbon neutrality in its own operations by 2030 is an ambitious target across a very wide range of services and large area.
The strategy sets out, as an immediate area of focus, integrating carbon reduction and climate resilience into decision making (page 34). We also plan to develop a carbon literacy programme for all staff and councillors (page 35). These measures will help to ensure that the strategy is embedded across all council departments.
We are already using our estate to generate energy, and we have recently accessed £4.6m of funding to decarbonise heating and install solar panels on 19 of our buildings. Some of these are already installed, while others will be installed in the coming months. We're now looking at what we can do for other buildings in our estate. Please see the six-monthly update to the Cabinet on the climate emergency on Wiltshire Council Cabinet 13 July 2021: Update on Council's response to the climate emergency (opens new window).
The council has upgraded its green electricity tariff to 'Your Green', a product provided by our supplier Total Gas and Power (TGP) that ensures that all Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) are sourced from a generator or technology directly contracted with TGP. This product ensures that 100% of the REGOs are purchased along with the associated generation. The sources of the renewable electricity remain as solely wind, solar, and hydro. This product provides increased traceability, transparency and reduces the perception of 'greenwashing' sometimes associated with REGO backed electricity.
We are taking action now and have one of the most ambitious council home retrofit programmes in the country with the aim for all properties to be EPC level B in the next 10 years. In addition, the Council has committed to all new build council homes that it delivers being net zero. See Cabinet agrees to new zero carbon council houses and energy efficient improvements for more information.
We held a very successful engagement event with town and parish councils in May 2021, and there was interest in follow-up events. We plan to offer a climate action planning workshop, run by Centre for Sustainable Energy to all town and parish councils. We will also support and encourage local councils to share what they are doing, and our Area Boards are keen to support this. CSE offers support for Parish Councils addressing climate change, more information at Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE): Neighbourhood plans (opens new window).
The Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and related documents such as the Community Environmental Toolkit also contain information to support what local councils can do.
We continue to work Town and Parish Councils on their neighbourhood plans as we have an obligation to do so. We are also procuring advice on how we can help advise Parish and Town Councils on the delivery of community energy/renewable energy schemes.
We have included in our climate strategy as an immediate action a commitment to create a Climate and Environment Forum. At the moment there is no plan to set up a Citizens' Assembly.
There are many opportunities for everyone to lower their emission. Our strategy includes 'one thing you can do' in every section, to highlight the role that individuals can play. We will also be launching a social media campaign soon with messages about what people can do. SeeWhat you can do as an individual.
For village or community projects, one of the first ways to understand how to lower emissions is to understand where the emissions are coming from. Impact: Community carbon calculator (opens new window) is available to help understand community emissions.
Please see appendix 1 of item 30 within the Agenda Cabinet - Tuesday 13 July 2021 10.00 am (opens new window). This shows the engagement that took place to shape the strategy following the publication of our discussion document in January.
The intention is for the new Climate and Environment Forum to monitor progress against the strategy and delivery plans.
Work will commence soon to design and develop the Forum. Funding and expenses will be considered as part of this process. In order to reduce the carbon footprint of the meetings, we may opt for an online forum.
We have made efforts to ensure that our consultation process is inclusive, for example by producing an Easy Read summary of the strategy document and also holding face to face drop in events for those who are not online.
Page 8 of the strategy sets out that a key principle is:
"Be inclusive - ensuring the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient future is accessible to all sectors of society, including our rural communities and businesses."
Working with partners, including the community and public, will be essential for us as we work towards our climate aims, and some ways this will need to be done are set out within the climate strategy. For example, within the built environment section working with householders to help them understand and engage with retrofit measures is highlighted as an important immediate opportunity. In terms specifically of a roadmap this would be something to be considered for the delivery plans.
The council has to balance the need to involve the public with ensuring its limited resources are focused on making the biggest impact. Large scale public consultations cannot be carried out for every delivery strategy as this takes considerable resource and time. We are facing an emergency and need to move swiftly.
The EV infrastructure plan focusses on the actions needed in the shorter term, and a longer-term strategy will be incorporated in the Local Transport Plan which will undergo full consultation.
Our strategy includes 'one thing you can do' in every section, to highlight the role that individuals can play. We will also be launching a social media campaign soon with messages about what people can do. See What you can do as an individual.
We will look into working with community energy companies but can only commit to this if it is financially viable for the council to do so.
Some other local authorities, including our neighbours at BANES, are offering discounts on solar panels through bulk-buying schemes, and so our climate team are currently looking into this.
It is proposed that a new forum will be set up of partners and stakeholders to help with the implementation of the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy.
We are keen to hear from all potential stakeholders with an interest in Wiltshire's green and blue infrastructure and would welcome the chance to discuss opportunities with all organisations that can help us to achieve the vision and implement this strategy. Please do contact either Paul Robertson (paul.robertson@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)) or Lynn Trigwell (lynn.trigwell@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)) to see how we can work together on the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. Thank you for your feedback and interest.
The importance of partnership working, including with communities, is highlighted throughout the climate strategy and the full details of how we will undertake these actions will be provided via the delivery plans. We are however not waiting and are looking to help residents access opportunities when they arise. Currently residents on an income of under £30,000 a year in a low energy performing home, have the opportunity to apply for retrofit funding, What you can do as an individual. The council also launched a social media campaign last week to encourage everyone to play their part - see #WiltsCanDoThis
Through the consultation, we wanted to find out whether there is broad support for our ambition and priorities. We cannot tackle climate change alone and need support from residents, partners and businesses. The aim of the consultation was to find out if there were priorities that have more or less support or whether there is anything we had missed.
All adopted strategies are published on our website. The Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan is the first implementation plan associated with the climate strategy.
Your comments have been compiled by the survey software and have been seen by officers at Wiltshire Council, who have considered whether the strategy needs to changed or made clearer. The climate strategy has now been finalised, considered by Cabinet and Full Council and adopted as a basis for the council's action on climate change. The council will work with residents, businesses and other partners towards the objectives of the strategy.
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