The UK’s first net zero carbon planning policy has been found likely to establish significant carbon savings in new buildings.
Back in January 2023, Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council adopted a planning policy requiring all new residential and major non-residential buildings to achieve net zero operational energy and for major developments to demonstrate an embodied carbon below a threshold value, among other commitments. In the process, it became the first local authority to adopt a policy of this ilk, with it going above and beyond the current UK building regulations.
Researchers from the University of Bath have now reviewed the first six months of the policy, studying every planning application made to B&NES Council between January and July. They then followed up with applicants with a questionnaire. Every compliant application was found to include solar photovoltaics and heat pumps, suggesting those to be the key technologies right now in the race to net zero, though more than half (55%) of applications were found to be non-compliant. This was down to a lack of awareness.
There was also unanimous consensus from applicants on concerns around the costs of meeting the new guidelines. These costs have included hiring additional consultants, constructing higher performing buildings and generating renewable energy onsite.
Principal Investigator, Dr Will Hawkins, explained: “We found evidence that this policy is likely to make all new buildings much more energy efficient and will also boost the introduction and take-up of renewables, compared to the previous guidelines. This isn’t fully proven yet as the buildings are still to be built, but the evidence available so far is very encouraging in terms of carbon reduction.”
The researchers are now looking to carry out a longer-term study, through which they will track the evolving industry response, quantify the real emissions savings made through construction and operation, and engage with stakeholders in a bid to support the policy’s implementation, further development and wider impact.
