Climate Emergency Development Plan Document (DPD)

About the document

Cornwall declared a climate emergency in 2019. Our aim is to become carbon neutral by 2030. This needs the combined effort of the Council and everyone else in Cornwall. Businesses, residents and visitors all need to act to help make this huge step.

We continue to call on Westminster to give us powers and funding to help deliver our ambitions. All services across the Council have a part to play. Planning is an important part of the solution to improve housing and infrastructure. Making sure that our children and grandchildren have a Cornwall to live, work and thrive in.

These Planning Policies impact on the way that places grow and change. They will help to protect and shape the future of Cornwall. The policies in the Cornwall Local Plan (CLP) do not do enough to protect against climate change. The Climate Emergency DPD replaces and introduces some policies. All aimed at protecting our environment, whilst sitting alongside Government legislation.

The policies make development more sustainable. We have gathered evidence from experts and stakeholders throughout the DPD process. This evidence helped us to identify the right policies. Our aim is that they are flexible, allowing us to keep up with changes in technology. Supporting information will give advice on how to interpret each policy.

Submission of the Climate Emergency DPD to the Secretary of State

Under the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012

On 8^th November 2021 Cornwall Council submitted the Climate Emergency DPD for independent examination.

The Document will now undergo an independent examination, conducted by the Planning Inspectorate. There is no set time for this process. It will continue until the Planning Inspector’s Report is complete.

Planning Inspector: P Griffiths BSc (Hons) BArch IHBC will conduct the examination on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The examination timetable and hearing dates have now been confirmed by the inspector along with a guidance note 

What is the process

The examination is likely to include a series of hearings. They will look at what the Inspector deems to be critical issues affecting the Plan. Respondents who made representations proposing changes during the consultation on the Plan (Regulation 19) may be invited to take part in a hearing.

The Inspector will decide which speakers will be asked to take part. The Programme Officer will invite them to attend when the ti­­metable for the hearing is complete.

During the examination period, the submission and examination materials will be available to view.

The DPD helps guide the Council in addressing climate change within planning decisions. In accordance with paragraph 48 of the National Planning Policy Framework and following submission of the document the council believes that the majority of policies in the DPD may now be given some weight (used) in decision making, where there are no unresolved objections. This means that positive weight may be given to proposals that comply with their requirements, and some policies which extend our existing Local Plan policies may support a refusal, but the policies will not be used as a sole reason for refusal at this stage.

You can view and download the submission documents from the links below.

Who oversees the process

The Planning Inspector will consider the soundness of the submitted plan. Against the criteria in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The inspector also considers if the plan meets the duty to co-operate and legal and procedural requirements.

The Programme Officer is: Mrs Jo McCabe who works on behalf of the Planning Inspector. She will organise and manage the administration and procedures of the examination process. Acting as the point of contact for any queries or correspondence with the Inspector. You can contact the Local Plan Programme Officer through the following contact details:

E-Mail programmeofficer@cornwall.gov.uk

Address:

Programme Officer Climate Emergency DPD,
C/O Cornwall Council,
3rd Floor Pydar House,
Pydar Street, Truro,
Cornwall, TR1 1XU

Telephone Number: 01872 224248

Mobile: 07483 338 295

Planning for a Carbon Neutral Cornwall

What can planning do to help?

Planning policies affect buildings or changes to the landscape. The Government sets national planning policy. It also set Building Regulations and other legislation that we must consider. We are not always able to make our local rules stricter. Planning follows a long and often-complicated legal process. It uses language that sometimes means very little to anyone but planners or lawyers! But this is to make sure that rules are legal and enforceable (or sound in planning terms). The Climate Emergency DPD encourages better development, that uses less energy. Developing buildings that survive future climate change and that help protect the planet.

We asked at early scoping if the themes we were considering were right, and the majority agreed. When considering the areas planning policy can impact our themes have remained constant.

We received many great ideas and suggestions but not all under planning control. We have shared all this feedback with our colleagues across the council. This DPD is one of many Cornwall Council projects to help address Climate Change.

Documents