Policy information sourced from City of London Local Plan

CS15: Sustainable Development and Climate Change

To enable City businesses and residents to make sustainable choices in their daily activities creating a more sustainable City, adapted to the changing climate, by:

  1. Requiring all redevelopment proposals to demonstrate the highest feasible and viable sustainability standards in the design, construction, operation and “end of life” phases of development. Proposals for major development should aim to achieve a BREEAM rating of “excellent” or “outstanding”. Residential development should aim to achieve a minimum standard of Code for Sustainable Homes level 4, rising to level 6 by 2016 or in line with government targets.
  2. Requiring development to minimise carbon emissions and contribute to a City wide reduction in emissions:
    • adopting energy-efficiency measures;
    • enabling the use of decentralised energy, including the safeguarded Citigen Combined Cooling Heating and Power (CCHP) network, CCHPready designs in areas where CCHP networks are not yet available, and localised renewable energy technologies;
    • adopting offsetting measures to achieve the Government’s zero carbon targets for buildings.
  3. Avoiding demolition through the reuse of existing buildings or their main structures, and minimising the disruption to businesses and residents, using sustainably sourced materials and conserving water resources.
  4. Requiring development to positively address:
    • local air quality, particularly nitrogen dioxide and particulates PM10 (the City’s Air Quality Management Area pollutants);
    • protection of the City’s quiet areas and quiet times of day for businesses (daytime) and residents (night time);
    • the need to limit the City’s contribution to light spillage and ‘sky glow’;
    • water quality and flood risk particularly in areas at risk of sewer flooding;
    • land contamination, ensuring development does not result in contaminated land;
    • the need to enhance biodiversity and provide for its conservation and enhancement, particularly for the City’s flagship species and the City’s priority habitats (urban green spaces, churchyards and cemeteries, built structures and the tidal Thames).
  5. Incorporating climate change adaptation measures into development and the City’s infrastructure, including street scene, transport and utility infrastructure, social and emergency infrastructure, and heritage assets, having regard to the need to protect their historic significance.

For more information please see the Local Plan