Climate Emergency Development Plan Document

An overarching policy that sets out the aims of all the policies in the DPD 

These policies protect ecosystems helping nature to reduce the effects of climate change. This can be by keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere or by reducing flood risk. Forests, peat bogs, salt marshes and seagrass beds all help to protect where we live. They also help during the dry spells or droughts that may happen because of climate change. Land that is not good for growing food is useful for creating natural solutions. Taking harmful carbon from the atmosphere. 

These can also become havens for wildlife and plants giving us more green spaces to enjoy and learn from. These planning policies aim to help conserve nature. More detailed information is available on the natural climate solutions topic paper.

Agriculture contributes around 20% of Cornwall's Carbon footprint. It is important that proposals or development on farms reduce emissions. To support food production agriculture has fewer planning restrictions than other developments. Yet, farming and estate management can impact on the habitat for pollinators, bees and insects. It can also affect biodiversity, natural flood defences, food and fuel. It can affect access to the countryside and the activities that we enjoy helping to keep us fit and healthy.

The policies allow development whilst committing to improving agricultural practices and estates. This will ensure that eco-system services continue to support the wider community. Improvements to land will help towards our aim to become carbon neutral. 

More information is available on the agriculture and rural issues topic paper.

Supporting self-sufficient lifestyles could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We’re proposing a new policy based on the Welsh ‘One Planet Development’ policy that was raised during Scoping consultation.

Low impact means being self-sufficient, in a way that is positive for the environment. This means respecting the landscape and cultural heritage on and surrounding the site. It also means increasing biodiversity, improving air, water and soil quality.

A one planet development aims to be self-sufficient in energy, water and waste. It should also provide a large proportion of food and income from the land.

This would be a move away from national and local policy on development in the open countryside. It is critical that proposals prove they have a low impact approach. For more information see the One Planet development/alternative living topic paper.

Town centres are in decline as shopping areas change and retail stores close. This isn't unique to Cornwall and has become much worse as a result of the pandemic. Government changes to planning rules and uses have tried to help slow this decline. Having more homes in town centres could help support town centres and reduce the impact of climate change. These policies aim to help to change the focus of our town centres and keep them alive. Investing in public transport and cycling routes helps to give more choice. It can make it easier to use our cars less and helps connect people to jobs. Mixed-use buildings, with good public transport and green spaces help keep towns vibrant. View the Town Centre Design and Density topic paper.

We need to travel in ways that are healthier and kinder to the planet. A fifth of all harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the UK come from road transport (mostly from cars). Currently there are very few ultralow-emission vehicles that use fuel other than diesel or petrol in Cornwall. A big challenge in reducing traffic is changing our behaviour. It's very easy to use your own car and people often see buses or trains as less convenient. When a new development is planned, we want to make it easier to choose other forms of transport. This can promote health as people find walking, cycling or taking the bus or train a better option. Policies can make sure that new development has access to public transport. They can also include as many safe walking and cycling routes as possible. By supporting a good mix of houses, schools, business and local services, more people are able to work locally. Other policies can make sure that charging points for electric vehicles are available. More detailed information is available in our transport topic paper. 

We all use electricity and the amount we need could double over the next 50 years. Only a third of energy we use currently is from renewable sources. The rest comes from fossil fuels or sources that affect the atmosphere and cause pollution. In the future we will need around five times the current amount of renewable energy. We must make changes, reduce demand and become carbon neutral. Renewable energy comes from a range of sources. Wind turbines that make the most of our windy conditions. Wave Power - capturing the power of the sea. Photo Voltaic or Solar Panels - using the warmth/ light from the sun. Deep Geothermal or hot rocks - using naturally occurring heat in the earth to generate energy. We encourage all forms of renewable energy in this growing sector. By encouraging everyone to make the right decisions we can use less energy. By making it possible to store more of the renewable energy we generate, we can keep it and use it in Cornwall. We are promoting Smart grid technology to support the electricity network in the South West. More information is available on renewable energy and mine water energy and deep geothermal in these topic papers.

In Cornwall fuel poverty affects over 31,000 houses. More people and houses in Cornwall have this problem than in other areas in England. Energy efficiency is important to protect the environment and to reduce fuel poverty. We have a lot of very old houses in Cornwall and they cost more money to heat and are difficult to keep warm. This policy looks at ways that new and existing housing can be improved. More detailed information on sustainable energy and construction. is available in this topic paper.

Worrying news stories, over the last few years show coastal damage and flooding. These events are happening more often with violent storms causing damage. That could also be because of the rising sea levels caused by global warming. We need to make sure we look after our coastline which can suffer from coastal erosion. Planning policies can make sure that development is in the right places. Not too close to the sea, on the beach or a cliff edge! Policies can ask developers or builders to carry out surveys to make sure the site isn't in a flood prone area. And to show that new building won't cause issues for nearby communities or buildings. Cornwall Council want natural climate solutions to be a priority for developers. This will form part of the policies in the Climate Emergency DPD. More detailed information is available on coastal change and flood management.