Planning for the future
Released: 3 August 2007
Wolverhampton City Council is proposing to introduce measures which will help to reduce the negative effects on the environment generated by large-scale building developments.
The authority’s Cabinet has approved a draft Supplementary Planning Document called Planning for Sustainable Communities which is intended to guide developers on how they should fully consider the long-term effects of their proposals.
Local, regional and national developers and agents who are most likely to submit major applications within Wolverhampton are now being consulted on the document and its recommendations which include ensuring that new building developments in the city strive towards being ‘carbon neutral’.
The document recommends that the city council becomes the first in the region to adopt the recently launched West Midlands Sustainable Planning Checklist - and proposes that it is completed by developers for all major planning applications.
The checklist is based on sustainability issues set out in national and regional policy and has been tailored to reflect issues of importance to the region. It is divided under a number of headings including:
- climate change and energy
- community
- transportation
- ecology
- business and economy.
Under the proposals, a summary and full report based on the checklist will be expected to accompany all major planning applications.
Councillor Les Turner, Wolverhampton City Council’s Member Champion for Sustainable Communities, said: “Wolverhampton City Council is again leading the way in creating sustainable communities by being the first in the region to propose the adoption of the checklist.
“The completion of the checklist by developers will allow the council to quickly assess the sustainability of each proposal, including aspects such as renewable energy, protecting local biodiversity and waste management.
“It will give us another tool to support developments which use less natural resources and fossil fuels. This is vitally important because in creating new communities we need to do whatever we can to ensure that there are no adverse effects for future generations.”
The consultation period runs from August 1 until September 14 and copies of the draft Supplementary Planning Document can be viewed on the council’s website at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/planningpolicy.
A copy is also available to view at:
Wolverhampton City Council
Civic Centre
Reception 24 (2nd floor)
St Peter’s Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1RP.
For further information contact the Planning Policy and Urban Design team on 01902 555638 or 01902 555636 or e-mail planning.policy@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Issued by the press office.