The Council will adopt strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In addressing the move to a low carbon future for Braintree District, the Council will plan for new development in locations and ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate that measures to lower carbon emissions, increase renewable energy provision and adapt to the expected impacts of climate change have been incorporated into their schemes, other than for very minor development. Planning permission will only be granted for proposals that demonstrate the principles of climate change mitigation and adaptation into the development. Guidance will be made available by the Council on the contents to be included in the Sustainability Statement. The Council intends the District to meet part of its future energy needs through renewable and low carbon energy sources and will therefore encourage and support the provision of these technologies subject to their impacts on landscape and visual amenity, residential amenities including noise, pollution, heritage assets and their settings, biodiversity and designated nature conservation sites, soils, and impact on the highway, being acceptable.

For more information, please visit Braintree District Council’s Local Plan here.