East of England to take positive approach to tackling climate change

Published by Fiona Mannion for TCPA in Environment and also in Education, Local Government

Local Authority planning officers and elected members in the East of England are to receive free, practical training tailored to the area as part of the Climate Change Skills Fundmanaged by Sustainability East on behalf of Improvement East.

A series of training sessions, beginning on the 20th September, will help local authorities better understand how an informed and coordinated approach to sustainable development, through the planning system, will allow the area to benefit. A total of 27 sessions will be held across the East of England, covering topics from policy development through to mitigation and adaptation strategies at different scales, from individual buildings up to new, large scale comprehensive developments. These positive sessions will demonstrate how solutions can tackle climate change, support economic growth and meet housing needs. Local case studies will be used to showcase the range of quality developments taking place across the East of England.

Areas in the East of England face some severe challenges from climate change such as from extreme heat and water security.  The region’s population is also one of the fastest growing and the latest independent research, using 2008-based projections, indicates a 14% increase in households in the East of England to around 3 million by 2026 from 2.34 million in 2006. 

However, there are a number of proactive ways in which local decision-makers, policy-makers and communities can respond, from community renewable energy projects through to embedding green infrastructure and sustainable drainage measures in development This will help to create places that are resilient to changing weather patterns and that are fit to operate in a rapidly decarbonising economy.  It can also help generate local jobs and help residents to be better able to cope with volatile energy prices. 

Diane Smith, European and Corporate Affairs Manager from the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), one of the organisations delivering the training, said:

“Responding to climate change should act as a driver for promoting low carbon, economic growth. The East of England also has one of the highest rates of income inequality in England, low skill levels and a high percentage of jobs in declining industries. Understanding and capitalising on the multiple benefits to be gained from effective planning for climate change is key. As well as reducing carbon emissions, delivering greater energy security and promoting low carbon economic growth, planning can play significant role in reducing fuel poverty, making waste management more sustainable, managing flood risk or risks associated with other weather events, promoting biodiversity and a wide range of other local priorities.”

Carly Leonard, Executive Director at Sustainability East said:

“Local authorities are at the forefront of delivering on climate change action and it is clear the current round of planning reform will afford a significant freedom in how they approach it. As a result, this is an exciting time to be delivering this training on taking a positive approach to tackling climate change. A great deal has already been learnt about what works and much of this remains relevant. The main messages are that effectiveness requires leadership and coordinated action right across a local authority, starting at chief executive level and permeating through the treasury and individual corporate activities and services.”

The training will be delivered by the TCPA, LDA Design, and CAG Consultants.