Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has today set out plans to double the carbon emissions reductions that developments must achieve, and reiterated that tackling climate change through the way we construct our new buildings in London remains a top priority.
His new plans strengthen planning policies for suburban parts of London, emphasising the importance of outer London and the need to co-ordinate planning for new housing, schools, hospitals, parks and open spaces to make sure that London’s suburbs continue to be attractive places to live and work.
He was speaking as he published for public consultation alterations to the London Plan. The new policies double the carbon emission reductions that developments must achieve through onsite renewable energy from 10 per cent to 20 per cent as well as setting radical new objectives for planners and developers that will require new developments to connect to “decentralised” local energy supplies and achieve the highest standards of sustainable building design.
The alterations to the London Plan set carbon dioxide reduction targets – a 20 per cent reduction by 2015 and a long-term target of a 60 per cent reduction by 2050 - the first time that statutory carbon reduction targets have been set for London. The review also includes a series of new development, transport and energy policies all with the aim of making London an exemplary and sustainable world city, adapting to inevitable climate change and reducing future carbon emissions.
And support for his proposals were boosted when on Tuesday the Mayor announced that UK industry was backing his plans for greener construction techniques in London as seventeen UK and overseas developers had expressed interest in constructing a ‘zero carbon’ development at Gallions Park in London’s Docklands and six potential development partners have now been shortlisted.
These announcements follow the Mayor’s attendance at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York last Friday where he stated that no public money would be invested in new housing developments in the capital that are not designed to be carbon neutral over their lifespan. The Mayor's commitment on housing developments were strongly welcomed by former US President Bill Clinton in his Manchester speech yesterday.
The Mayor said:
`The past week of high level climate change debate both in the US and here in the UK reinforces my commitment that London should lead the way in showing the world how one of its greatest cities is planning to meet the challenges of climate change. We have already succeeded through the London Plan in introducing a target of ten per cent carbon reductions through on-site renewable energy generation and developers and planners should be applauded for taking up this.
‘The new policies set tough but deliverable targets for reducing our carbon emissions. We must move our cities away from relying on inefficient centralised heat and power generation, and stop constructing buildings that waste heat and electricity.
'Once I take over responsibility for the investment plan for London’s £1.7 billion affordable housing budget no money will be spent subsidising environmentally inefficient public sector homes in the capital.’
'The policies set out here will bring further benefits to Londoners living in the outer London boroughs.'
These new policies are published in a document entitled Draft Further Alterations to the London Plan which the Mayor is publishing today for public consultation which ends on 22nd December 2006. This is the second stage of the consultation following a preliminary round of consultation with the London Assembly during the summer.
The Draft Further Alterations to the London Plan also consolidate and strengthen planning policies for suburban parts of London. The Mayor’s investment in neighbourhood policing, in the expansion of public transport provision and the provision of affordable childcare have already led to marked improvements in the quality of life in outer London. These new policies emphasise the importance of outer London and the need to co-ordinate planning for new housing, schools, hospitals, parks and open spaces to make sure that London’s suburbs continue to be attractive places to live and work.
ENDS
Notes to editors
“Decentralised energy” involves using combined heat, power and cooling systems and renewable energy, as the most efficient way to supply heat and power to domestic and commercial buildings. Typical decentralised energy systems are over 85% efficient, compared with average centralised power generation which wastes two thirds of energy input and is the single biggest source of carbon emissions
In working towards a long term reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of 60 per cent by 2050 he has set the following minimum targets for London (against a 1990 base):
- 15 per cent by 2010
- 20 per cent by 2015
- 25 per cent by 2020
- 30 per cent by 2025
These targets are practicable providing all stakeholders, including government, work together.
Existing commercial and domestic buildings contribute approximately 73 per cent of carbon emissions in London. The Mayor recognises the cost implications of these new technology and will support measures to drive down costs such as stimulating their supply chains.
Most changes to the London Plan are minor amendments to clarify points or to take account of new information. Most of the proposed significant policy changes reflect issues raised in the Mayor’s Statement of Intent published in December 2005. In substantive terms it is the group of new policies associated with climate change in Chapter 4A which represent the most significant Further Alterations.
The Further Alterations to the London Plan are the result of a focused review based on the Mayor’s Statement of Intent to review the plan. Factors which this took into account included:
- a duty to keep the London Plan under review,
- responding to new evidence
- taking into account the results of the Sub Regional Development Framework Process
- extending the plan period from 2016 to 2025 and
- taking account of national legislation and policy in the recent planning system reforms.
Next steps
- Public consultation – September to 22nd December 2006
- The Examination in Public and the Panel’s report – Summer 2007
- Publication of revisions to the London Plan – early 2008
The Draft Further Alterations to the London Plan can be found at www.london.gov.uk/londonissues/planninganddevelopment.jsp
