Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

S2: COMBATTING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

The Council will combat the Climate Emergency by working with partners to:

  • Meet targets to reduce carbon emissions from new development and theredevelopment and refurbishment of existing buildings and seek opportunities toretrofit existing buildings.
  • Reduce carbon emissions in transport sector
  • Ensure that the District is future proofed for the changing climate

Climate Change Mitigation
1. To reduce carbon emissions from new buildings and the redevelopment and refurbishment of existing buildings, the Council will:

  • Require all new development to be zero-carbon ready (ie it should need no significant work toensure that they have zero carbon emissions as the grid decarbonises;
  • Encourage proposals to use electricity produced on site in addition to decarbonisedgrid electricity. At individual dwelling scale, proposals could include: renewable energy- generating technology, such as solar panels or micro-wind turbines, and environmentally friendly heating technology, such as heat pumps, unless it is not practicable or could harm the amenity of occupiers and surrounding properties;
  • Require developers of major new residential developments to make the development zero carbon (see Glossary for definition), preferably on-site or, if that is not practicable, through a carbon offset fund, administered by the Council and funding carbon reduction measures in Mole Valley; and,
  • Seek funding opportunities to retrofit the existing building stock

2. To reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector, the Council will:

  • Work with developers, partners and funding agencies to create new walking or cycling routesor seek improvements to walking and cycling routes, such as upgrading public footpaths, new pedestrian crossings and footway widening to reduce conflict between cyclists and pedestrians;
  • Work with partners and funding agencies to improve train frequency, rail station accessibility and bus stop accessibility and information; and,
  • Deliver an increase in electric-vehicle charging points availability and, where necessary, support electricity supply infrastructure (eg additional substations), through new development, funding schemes and in collaboration with UK Power Networks (or any successor provider)

Climate Change Adaptation
3. To ensure that the District is future proofed for climate change, the Council will expect all development to, where practicable and with reference to local character:

  • Adopt passive design principles to limit energy use;
  • Minimise resource use;
  • Incorporate sustainable drainage systems; and,
  • Retain or provide soft landscaping to create natural cooling measures, biodiversity habitats orpromote local food growing

Low Carbon Energy Generation Infrastructure
4. The provision of renewable and low carbon, energy generation infrastructure should be located and designed to minimise potential adverse effects, with particular regard to conserving Mole Valley’s highly valued landscape and natural, historic and built environments. The erection of wind turbines should also have regard to the Aerodrome Safeguarding requirements.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan