Policy information sourced from the Sutton Local Plan 2016-2031
33: Climate Change Adaptation
Proposed developments should minimise vulnerability of people and property and be fully adapted and resilient to the future impacts of climate change by:
a. Avoiding or minimising all sources of flood risk to and from the development, managing any residual risks and, where possible, reducing flood risks overall, taking account of the future impacts of climate change (see Policy 32)
b. Minimising overheating and contribution to the urban heat island effect by permeating the development with blue and green spaces and by incorporating a range of natural cooling measures as part of the design and layout, including passive design measures (e.g. building orientation), shading, planting and soft landscaping, trees, ponds, SuDS measures and other surface water features. All major developments should:
- comply with the Mayor’s cooling hierarchy as set out in London Plan Policy 5.9.
- incorporate and manage green roofs or green walls where feasible.
- for previously developed sites - aim to achieve an increase in overall green space coverage of at least 10% compared to baseline conditions prior to development.
- for previously developed sites - aim to achieve an improved Green Space Factor (GSF) score of at least +0.2 compared to the baseline GSF score prior to redevelopment.
- greenfield sites - aim to achieve a GSF score of at least 0.5.
c. Conserving water resources by maximising the flood storage role of rivers, aquifers, ponds, natural floodplains and other surface water features; promoting the benefits of SuDS for groundwater recharge; and achieving high standards of water efficiency. All new dwellings should limit domestic water consumption to 110 litres per person per day (l/p/d) in line with the Government’s higher ‘optional requirements’ for water efficiency set out in Part G of the Building Regulations as amended.
d. Maximising the role of borough-wide blue and green space networks, including the Green Spaces safeguarded for the Wandle Valley Regional Park (part of the Mayor’s Green Grid), Green Belt, Metropolitan Open Land, the Wandle Catchment and other river corridors, natural floodplain, wildlife sites, green corridors, woodland areas, trees and backgardens in urban cooling and in achieving a range of benefits for flood risk management, water quality, air quality, wildlife habitats, amenity and healthy lifestyles. All developments should seek to integrate urban greening measures from the earliest stages of project planning and design, including within the public realm
e. Conserving and enhancing the range and ecological variability of existing wildlife habitats and species to avoid losing biodiversity in the face of future climate change (see Policy 26)
f. Taking account of the expected changes in the local climate throughout the lifetime of the development by incorporating sufficient flexibility of design and layout to enable adaptation to future climate impacts and other changing economic, environmental or social demands.
For more information please see the Local Plan 2016-2031